DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A VIRTUAL REALITY CONFINED ROOM ENVIRONMENT FOR CLAUSTROPHOBIA EXPOSURE THERAPY

Abstract

This research aims at developing and empirically evaluating an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) confined storage room environment designed to support exposure therapy for individuals suffering from claustrophobia. Grounded in the broader multi-layered C-VR therapeutic framework and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) desensitization principles, this study focuses specifically on the design, implementation, and empirical testing of a Level 4 Confined Storage Room simulation. The virtual environment—featuring narrow walkways, stacked boxes, restricted physical boundaries, and dim ambient lighting—was modeled in Autodesk Maya, rendered via Unreal Engine, and deployed using an Oculus Rift CV1 head-mounted display (HMD). An empirical evaluation was conducted with a target group of 13 participants experiencing claustrophobic symptoms who actively navigated the virtual confined room. The evaluation systematically assessed three core dimensions: virtual reality experience and spatial presence, cybersickness and adverse symptoms, and perceived therapeutic efficacy, utilizing a structured 4-point rating scale. The findings revealed that the virtual confined room successfully elicited a strong sense of spatial presence (Mean = 3.23, S.D. = 0.73) and situational involvement (Mean = 3.08, S.D. = 0.76). Evaluation of adverse symptoms demonstrated high physiological safety and tolerability, with low severity of nausea (Mean = 2.00, S.D. = 1.08) and abnormal sweating (Mean = 1.92, S.D. = 1.12), alongside moderate eyestrain and postural instability (Mean = 2.54). In terms of perceived efficacy, participants subjectively reported high levels of courage to engage in activities within enclosed spaces (Mean = 3.15, S.D. = 0.69) and feelings of psychological comfort (Mean = 3.08, S.D. = 0.86), indicating positive user receptivity and perceived coping potential. Qualitative feedback highlighted minor usability difficulties with the handheld controller during spatial navigation. This study confirms that a targeted virtual confined room simulation provides a safe, controllable tool for perceived phobic desensitization.

Keywords: Virtual Reality, Claustrophobia, Exposure Therapy, Systematic Desensitization