Cue exposure therapy (CET) in the context of drug abuse rehabilitation refers to the manualized and repeated exposure to drug related cues, aimed at reducing the cue reactivity by extinction.

Conventionally, drug abusers undergoing rehabilitation in the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) undergo talk therapy and role play in group-based rehabilitation programmes based on the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles. However, these methods lack realism and challenges were reported in managing cravings to drug cues and triggers in the naturalistic environment.

In collaboration with the SPS Correctional Research Branch of the Psychological & Correctional Rehabilitation Division, a prototype Virtual Reality (VR) immersive technology to desensitize drug abusers to different cues in drug use based on CBT principles has been developed and trialed.

Realistic drug-related encounters are simulated in a VR environment involving scenarios where a drug abuser might be tempted with illicit substances. This enables prison psychologists to provide immersive CET sessions where drug abusers are exposed to highly vivid and compelling drug cues and triggers to treat their drug craving.

Eye tracking and heart rate data of the VR User are monitored in real time during the VR experience. These heart rate and eye tracking data collected would enable the prison psychologist to determine if the subject is affected or overly fixated upon certain cues in the VR scenario. Drug abusers undergoing rehabilitation are essentially immersed in this controlled and safe VR environment with constant monitoring. With repeated sessions it is envisioned that they will develop effective coping mechanisms thus reducing recidivism amongst drug abusers.

Based on the user trial results and empirical data of the VR cue exposure therapy prototype system, we were able to demonstrate its effectiveness and efficacy in desensitizing drug abusers to different cues in drug use using CBT principles leveraging on state-of-the-art VR immersive technologies.

Xiang Long Cheng

Affiliation

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Virtual Reality Cue Exposure Therapy System