Virtual Reality Exposure and Respiratory Relaxation-Based Coping With Cocaine Craving in Cocaine Users

Development and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Application for Eliciting Craving and Its Physiological Arousal in Cocaine Users

Our study main objective is to test whether virtual reality exposure could elicit cocaine craving and its physiological arousal in cocaine users. Investigators aim to compare self-reported cocaine craving, self-efficacy to cope with craving and emotional states levels in 11 voluntary and adults cocaine users in 3 consecutive 10-mins conditions: Neutral VR (virtual reality exposure to neutral stimuli), Cocaine VR (virtual reality exposure to cocaine use-related stimuli) and Relaxation (respiratory relaxation).

Inclusion Criteria:

- Cocaine use within the past 28 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• Actual manic or hypomanic episode (MINI, Lecrubier and al., 1998)
• Actual psychotic episode (MINI, Lecrubier and al., 1998)
• Actual high suicidal risk (MINI, Lecrubier and al., 1998)
• Being involved in incarceration procedure
• Medical risk for safety while physiological arousal (e.g. cardiac disease)
• Disability for performing virtual reality task (e.g. blindness or deafness)
• Significant motion sickness symptoms (SSQ pre-post total score ≥ 15, Bimberg et al., 2020)