See What I Fear: Integrating Virtual Reality and Eye-Tracking in the Assessment and Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder

In light of the growing need for innovative approaches in digital mental health, this PhD thesis investigates how Virtual Reality (VR) and eye-tracking can advance both the assessment and treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Although highly prevalent and burdensome, SAD remains frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated, often leading to chronic symptoms and comorbidities. Two overarching questions guide the work: how can these technologies shed light on the mechanisms underlying SAD, and what is their clinical value in treatment? The thesis draws on an experimental study using VR with real-time eye-tracking to examine visual attention patterns in socially evaluative contexts, and a systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of VR-based interventions. Together, the studies examine both the assessment and intervention potential of VR and eye-tracking, while also addressing the methodological and clinical challenges of implementing such tools in mental health care.