Background
The efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for fear of flying has been well established. Yet, little is known about the extent to which anxiety sensitivity and self-efficacy predict the efficacy of VRET. We aimed at investigating these cognitive predictors as well as the contribution of the therapeutic alliance to treatment outcome.
Methods
In a within-subjects design with 67 patients with fear of flying, four sessions of an exposure-based treatment using VRET were given. Sessions were held every week, each consisting of two virtual flights of 25 min.
Results
Results showed that pre-treatment levels of anxiety sensitivity, initial improvement in self-efficacy (and not pre-treatment levels of self-efficacy), and the quality of the therapeutic alliance significantly predicted treatment outcome.
Conclusions
The findings provide evidence that initial changes in self-efficacy, pre-treatment anxiety sensitivity, and therapeutic alliance are significant predictors of response to VRET for specific phobia.