A Dutch study suggests that people who suffer from high altitude phobia may be able to overcome their fear of using a virtual reality application and cartoon glasses that do not cost much on their mobile phones.
Researchers in the study, published in the journal "Gama of Psychiatry", said the volunteers who participated in the study used the application of cognitive behavioral therapy, and improved their condition compared to what patients usually achieve with a psychologist.
Tara Donker, an assistant professor and psychiatrist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, said the study shows that "high altitude phobias can be treated effectively without the use of a doctor through the treatment we offer through a smartphone application called Zerophobia, Only 10 dollars ».
"This means that there is a way to effectively treat certain types of phobia at a negligible cost compared to face-to-face therapy sessions or exposure therapy to high-end virtual reality technologies," she said.
The game-like application takes its users to face a series of challenges that are terrifying to a person suffering from high altitude phobia, such as repairing a lamp by standing on a ladder or in a high balcony and rescuing cats from high pedestrian bridges.