The use of virtual reality in mental health is a novel method that has the potential to be transformative. Here’s how VR can improve mental health treatment and interventions.

With one in every four of us anticipated to have a mental health problem at some point in our lives, expanding access to treatment has become critical. Yet, doing so is difficult. Therapists need substantial training, and the most effective forms of therapy entail guiding patients in everyday settings, which takes time and is consequently expensive.

When it comes to mental health breakthroughs, virtual reality is swiftly going from science fiction to nonfiction. According to new research published in Psychiatry Research, virtual reality, or VR, can effectively benefit patients with anxiety and despair, giving people suffering from mental health disorders new hope during this pandemic.

Virtual reality is a computer-generated environment that mimics the actual world. Wearable technologies such as headsets and glasses generate three-dimensional pictures that adapt to users’ head motions, resulting in a 360-degree landscape. The end result is an immersive image that closely resembles how we see reality.

Visually, the VR system components collaborate to “create sensory illusions that result in a more or less convincing imitation of reality.” They appear genuine because they achieve real-world-like brain and behavioral reactions from virtual stimuli. It is possible to physically feel objects in the virtual world, in addition to seeing and hearing them. This type of dynamic interaction allows the “user to engage with the VR environment in a more naturalistic and intuitive manner” and provides the sensation of being there.

VR advances are being used to treat addiction and depression, as well as to teach mindfulness and compassion. So, how exactly might virtual reality assist you?

What exactly is VR mental therapy?

VR employs a headset to immerse the user in a “virtual reality” that delivers real-life experiences. Assume you are afraid of public speaking. VR could allow you to talk in front of thousands of people without needing to recruit crowds to help you cope with your nerves. Your treatment becomes more than just talking with a therapist about your anxieties, despair, or phobias. 

Several VR programs are already being tested in the offices of mental health professionals. However, one disadvantage of this early VR adaptation is that patients must still visit an office. The next VR mental health game changer will occur when users can utilize the technology in the privacy of their own homes.

How does VR work in therapy?

VR works because the artificial world’s digitally generated sensory feedback substitutes our everyday experiences. To feel immersive and present, systems often contain two visual displays, one for each eye, that differ significantly, just like they do when we observe any non-digital item. For instance, look at your finger with one eye closed, then the other. There will be a minor shift in the image. Our brain creates a 3D mental representation using inputs (actual or manufactured) from both eyes.

Additional sensory information is added to the virtual world to make it more realistic: audio impulses enter through both ears to create 3D spatial surround sound, and haptic feedback creates the impression of “physical contact with the virtual world.” The wearer’s capacity to interact with the surroundings is maybe the most exciting aspect of VR. We may affect the environment in front of us by moving our heads, pointing at or grabbing something, or even redirecting our sight. As a result, our sense of reality is determined by the quality and quantity of our sensory experiences, as well as our ability to interact with our surroundings.

Treatments supported by VR 

PTSD

VR exposure therapy has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD. The therapist begins by assessing the patient’s needs based on the type and severity of the trauma. The VR environment can thus be tailored to the individual and their needs. A specified time of day, noises relevant to the equipment used, and the terrain can all be customized.

Anxiety

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is regarded as an effective and beneficial treatment for fear and anxiety. It provides a means of expanding access to such treatment while maintaining consistency. Fear memories, according to emotion-processing theory, are supposed to be structures that hold information about our fears, such as stimuli, meaning, and responses. VRET systems aid emotional processing by immersing the patient in an environment designed specifically for those fear structures.

Depression

Depression symptoms include low mood, poor appetite, disrupted sleep, loss of energy, and thoughts of worthlessness. Not only is VR regarded as a cost-effective technique for treating anxiety, but increasing research indicates its efficacy as a treatment for depression. The usage of VR has resulted in a considerable reduction in symptoms in clients suffering from depression, but further research is needed to establish the best balance with conventional treatments.

Benefits of VR mental therapy

Flexibility

Not only is VR more practical, but people are more likely to engage in virtual representations of situations that cause them anxiety since they realize it’s only a simulation. It’s also easy to experiment with things that might be too dangerous or embarrassing to try in real life. VR also allowed the researchers to make some scenarios more enjoyable for participants, such as activities requiring you to rescue a cat or blow balloons. This increased flexibility in how individuals confronted their anxiety could explain why their reductions in fear of heights outperformed those reported in traditional exposure therapy.

Automation

The ability to automate VR therapy is maybe its most significant advantage. This means that a virtual coach can accompany you in VR and explain the therapy and teach you the psychological skills to try. Because of advancements in VR hardware, it is becoming more affordable and viable to apply this technology in mental health services in the near future for the treatment of various illnesses. While technology will never replace therapists, it may increase the number of individuals with access to treatment.

Effectiveness

Virtual reality can potentially transform mindfulness and meditation apps by replacing simple audio meditations with multi-sensory experiences. Virtual reality allows users to travel virtually to diverse countries and environments while animations assist the user’s breathing, producing a really relaxing and calming meditation experience.

While the focus of VR has been on assisting people in overcoming difficulties caused by mental health issues, the potential for developing and maintaining positive mental well-being is vast.

VR therapy has great and intriguing potential. The success of such immersive technology has the potential to improve the lives of those who are suffering.