Virtual Reality therapy utilizes a computer simulation-world as treatment. People can use it to practice new skills, overcome fears, or become more confident in social situations. It is important to note that VR therapy does not replace standard treatments for mental health conditions and is instead used as an additional treatment. Numerous studies have found that VR therapy can be effective for managing mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and phobias.
What is VR therapy?
VR therapy utilizes virtual worlds and scenarios as a therapeutic tool. A person may wear a headset or use a device to submerge themselves and interact with the virtual world. Since it is possible to simulate various worlds and scenarios with VR, it makes it extremely useful for constructing situations that are particularly hard to recreate in reality or that could be too scary or risky. Therapists often use VR to allow clients to practice real-life challenges. They can revisit a past event. VR also helps a person confront their fears in a controlled and comfortable environment. Researchers published the first paper on VR therapy over 25 years ago. As technology has improved, interest in this tool has greatly increased.
How does VR therapy work?
VR therapy operates by allowing people to act out, practice, or revisit personal situations in a controlled environment. This may teach skills, reduce fears, and help process a past event. VR can also make something frightening feel more manageable by removing real-world risks. For instance, a person with a phobia may not be able to confront it in reality. Interacting with a simulation in a virtual world may help them gradually become accustomed to their fear. They can learn it is not a threat. This way, VR can help bridge the gap between therapy and the real world.
What conditions could VR help with?
VR therapy was originally used by therapists to treat phobias, but over time, therapists have tried it for a variety of mental health conditions.
Phobias
VR can be used for exposure therapy, which is a mainstay of phobia treatment. It involves gradually exposing a person to their fear in small, manageable steps with their consent. Although it is possible to do exposure therapy without VR, it is often difficult to do so. For example, a person with a fear of wild animals could potentially put themselves in grave danger if they try to interact with one in order to overcome their fear.
The possibilities of exposure therapy have been expanded by VR. A 2022 systematic review of 18 articles found that this approach improved almost all types of specific phobias. The research included phobias such as animal or injection phobias.
PTSD
Exposure therapy can also help treat PTSD, but as with phobias, controlled exposure to a traumatic situation can be difficult and unsafe. Various studies suggest that VR therapy offers an alternative. For instance, a 2019 review and meta-analysis of nine previous studies compared the effects of VR exposure therapy to no therapy. In comparison to the participants who received no treatment, VR therapy reduced PTSD symptoms, and the benefits continued for at least 3 months after the end of their treatment.
Anxiety and Depression
According to a 2019 review of previous research, there is a great potential for VR to help with multiple aspects of anxiety and depression treatment. It could help people understand mental health, visualize CBT techniques, teach self-compassion, and even simulate other therapies, like gardening or animal-assisted therapy. Additionally, a 2021 scoping review that assessed nine previous studies that combined VR with CBT found that it could benefit the treatment of anxiety and depression.
Virtual reality therapy can be highly effective. It helps people learn new skills in a safe environment. It also allows them to face their fears. However, it is important to seek care from a licensed, experienced practitioner.
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