The LATE intends to be a platform for the study of fear and sadness in anxiety and other emotional disorders with a focus on the exploration of virtual reality technology for the diagnosis and treatment of such disorders.
Laboratory of Emotional Disorders
The Laboratory of Emotional Disorders / Laboratoire des Troubles Emotionnels (LATE) is part of the Centre d’Études en Santé (Director: Mrs Marie-Lise Lair) at the CRP-Santé. The focus of the laboratory is the study of fear and sadness in anxiety disorders, major depressive disorders and obesity. In addition, the laboratory investigates the impairment in functioning and the reduction in quality of life that accompany such disorders as well as their course and outcome following treatment. Emotions are investigated using a battery of specific questionnaires and rating scales, personality tests and physiological measurements. An original aspect of the LATE is the use of virtual reality to study emotions and to treat emotional disorders using exposure to anxiety provoking stimuli in virtual reality. The laboratory is working in close collaboration with the Clinique des Troubles Émotionnels of the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg.
The LATE is currently involved in 2 main projects. The first project explores the potential of virtual reality in the study and treatment of specific phobias such as fear of driving, fear of flying and fear of public speaking. To achieve this goal, the LATE acquires, further develops and adapts relevant specific software and hardware. In a first step, the effects of exposure to anxiety provoking virtual environments are compared to the effects elicited by exposure to the same environments in imagination. The main objective of the project is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to compare the efficacy of traditional cognitive behaviour therapy and virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) in each of these phobias.
The second project intends to identify emotional disorders (including problems with body image) that are associated with severe obesity (BMI over 40), to study the course of these problems at follow-up after surgery and to identify emotional factors that may be involved in the short-term as well as the long-term prognosis of patients presenting for gastric by-pass surgery. All candidates are assessed prior to the surgery and at one year after surgery. The assessment includes assessment of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, quality of life, handicap, body dissatisfaction and the presence of eating disorders such as binge eating disorders. In addition, the project includes the assessment of body image by questionnaires and by exposure to different body shapes and sizes using virtual reality.
Current Team Members :
Function : Researcher
Phone : +352 26970-770
Fax : +352 26970-719
Email : gloria.aguayo@crp-sante.lu
Function : Scientific Collaborator
Phone : +352 26970-811
Fax : +352 26970-717
Email : marc.damme@crp-sante.lu
Function : IT Specialist
GSM : +352 621455826
Phone : +352 26970-881
Email : maxime.larcelet@crp-sante.lu
Activity report PDF Press release
Do Patients with Severe Obesity Overestimate or Underestimate their Body Size? Aguayo G., Larcelet M, Pull CB. The International ehealth, Telemedicine and Health ICT Forum for Education, Networking and Business (Med@Tel); Luxembourg (Luxembourg),14th-16th April 2010 - presented by Pull C.
Aspects psychologiques de l’obésité. Aguayo G. Cycle de conférences, 20e anniversaire du CRP-Santé: La santé dans tous ses états; Ettelbruck (Luxembourg), 16 décembre 2008.
La dépression et le suicide: les apports scientifiques. Fond-Harmant L, Pull C. Cycle de conférences, 20e anniversaire du CRP-Santé: La santé dans tous ses états; Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), 15 Septembre 2008 - présenté par Pull C et Fond-Harmant L.
Evaluation psychiatrique des candidats à une chirurgie bariatrique pour obésité. Aguayo G. Scientific Meetings at CRP-Santé; Luxembourg (Luxembourg), 8th February 2008.