Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40273440›Full record

ArticleJMIR human factors2025

Blended Mobile-Based Interventions With Integrated Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Thematic Analysis of Patient Perspectives.

Jari Planert, Anne-Sophie Hildebrand, Alla Machulska, Kati Roesmann, Marie Neubert, Sebastian Pilgramm, Juliane Pilgramm, Tim Klucken

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR human factors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jari Planert *Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8088-2511
Anne-Sophie Hildebrand *Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-5612-4083
Alla MachulskaDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-5968-429X
Kati RoesmannInstitute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-6940-3551
Marie NeubertDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9093-2009
Sebastian PilgrammDepartment of Psychology, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt, Germany.ORCID 0009-0000-8029-4130
Juliane PilgrammDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.ORCID 0009-0009-3964-0965
Tim KluckenDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2433-6652

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGuided mobile-based interventions may mitigate symptoms of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder. With exposure therapy being efficacious in traditional treatments for these disorders, recent advancements have introduced 360° videos to deliver virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) within mobile-based interventions.

objectiveDespite ongoing trials evaluating the treatment's efficacy, research examining patient perceptions of this innovative approach is still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to explore patient opinions on specific treatment aspects of mobile-based interventions using mobile VRET and psychotherapeutic guidance for anxiety disorders.

methodsA total of 11 patients diagnosed with panic disorder, agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder who had previously taken part in the experimental conditions of 2 randomized controlled trials for a mobile intervention including mobile VRET participated in cross-sectional, retrospective interviews. Using a semistructured interview format, patients were asked to reflect on their treatment experiences; personal changes; helpful and hindering aspects; their motivation levels; and their encounters with the mobile-based intervention, manualized treatment sessions, and the mobile VRET.

resultsThematic analysis led to the formation of 14 themes in four superordinate categories: (1) perceived treatment outcomes, (2) aspects of the mobile intervention, (3) experiences with mobile VRET, and (4) contextual considerations. Patients offered their insights into factors contributing to treatment success or failure, delineated perceived treatment outcomes, and highlighted favorable aspects of the treatment while pointing out shortcomings and suggesting potential enhancements. Most strikingly, while using a blended app-based intervention, patients highlighted the role of psychotherapeutic guidance as a central contributing factor to their symptom improvement.

conclusionsThe findings of the thematic analysis and its diverse patient perspectives hold the potential to guide future research to improve mobile-based treatment options for anxiety disorders. Insights from these patient experiences can contribute to refining mobile-based interventions and optimizing the integration of VRET in accordance with patients' preferences, needs, and expectations.

Indexed as

Anxiety DisordersMobile ApplicationsVirtual Reality Exposure TherapyAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchRetrospective Studiesanxiety disordersblended therapyeHealthinternet- and mobile-based interventionsvirtual reality exposure therapy

Identifiers

PMID40273440
PMCPMC12062763

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.