Attitudes towards virtual reality usage in exposure treatment: Data from German practitioners and how a demonstration changes them

Background. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is well applicable within the framework of cognitive-behavioral anxiety treatment, yet its acceptance and implementation in psychotherapeutic practice remain unclear. This study assessed VRET-related attitudes among German psychotherapists and the impact of a brief demonstration on their intention to use VRET.Methods. The study involved an online survey (N = 140) and an optional on-site scenario demonstration (n = 45). Self-reported attitudes, experience rates, and usage intention were assessed. Predictors of usage intention were identified via hierarchical multiple regression. A linear mixed model estimated the demonstration’s effect on usage intention.Results. Only 7.9 % of participants reported at least occasional VR use in practice. A majority (78.7 %) indicated a generally positive attitude toward VRET. While 77.9 % participants could imagine integrating VRET into their work, only 20.0 % reported intending to do so in the next year. Usage intention was predicted by performance expectancy and facilitating conditions, increasing significantly (d = 1.50) from screening to post-demonstration.Conclusion. Despite their interest in VR, VRET implementation among German psychotherapists’ remains low. The substantial impact of hands-on demonstrations indicates the potential of experiential education programs in promoting early-stage dissemination.