An Augmented Reality Mobile Application for Phobia Treatment

A phobia is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation which can be effectively treated with various therapies. One of the most well-known methods for treating a specific phobia is Exposure Therapy, which involves exposing the target individual to the source of anxiety or its context without the intention of causing any harm. Innovative technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can be coupled with Exposure Therapy to treat common anxiety disorders. Even though many studies have shown the advantages of using VR for Exposure therapy, AR applications are only just becoming available. The application uses AR technology to create realistic and immersive simulations of anxiety inducing scenarios, allowing users to confront and gradually desensitize themselves to their fears in a safe and controlled environment.