Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40534596›Full record

ReviewClinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH2025

Virtual Reality in the Treatment of Panic Disorder in the Last Decade: A Systematic Review.

Lucio Gonçalves, Rafael Garcia, Laiana Quagliato, Jose Carlos Appolinario, Antonio Nardi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

5 authors.

Lucio GonçalvesVirtual Reality in Mental Health Laboratory (RVSM), Institute of Psychiatry (IPUB), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5189-2924
Rafael GarciaVirtual Reality in Mental Health Laboratory (RVSM), Institute of Psychiatry (IPUB), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8186-0939
Laiana QuagliatoLABPR - Panic and Respiration Laboratory (LABPR), Institute of Psychiatry (IPUB), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6928-5847
Jose Carlos AppolinarioInstitute of Psychiatry (IPUB), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Venceslau Bras, 71, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brasil - CEP 22290 140, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6089-4400
Antonio NardiInstitute of Psychiatry (IPUB), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Venceslau Bras, 71, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brasil - CEP 22290 140, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2152-4669

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Virtual Reality (VR) is an interactive, three-dimensional computing environment that enables individuals to experience a sense of presence as if they are immersed in a real-world setting. VR is currently being implemented in therapeutic interventions for individuals with certain mental disorders. Objective: To illustrate the implementation and evolution of VR in the treatment of panic disorder, agoraphobia, and panic disorder with or without agoraphobia over the past decade. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted based on articles retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science, covering the period from 2013 to 2023. A total of 21 studies were selected after analyzing the titles, abstracts, and content in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: A total of 153 articles were initially selected and included in the study. The results demonstrated the evolution and increasing use of VR-based technologies for the treatment of mental disorders, including panic disorder and PDA. Discussion: The utilization of VR exposure therapy (VRET) for patients with panic disorder, agoraphobia, or PDA yielded measurable outcomes, including the evolution of VRET applications, an increase in the number of scientific articles and patients in recent years, as well as advancements in hardware devices, software, and other application methods, such as self-guided applications. Conclusions: The implementation of VRET is increasing in several regions worldwide, and its evolution is indisputable for the treatment of panic disorder, agarophobia, and PDA. Comparisons with traditional

Indexed as

Agoraphobia in virtual realityPanic disorderPRISMAReal-worldVirtual realityVirtual reality exposure therapy

Identifiers

PMID40534596
PMCPMC12174943

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.