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Review of Virtual Reality Treatment in Psychiatry: Evidence Versus Current Diffusion and Use
Matthew C Mishkind1, Aaron M Norr2, Andrea C Katz2
1Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. matthew.mishkind@ucdenver.edu.
Current Psychiatry Reports
|September 19, 2017
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) shows promise in psychiatric practice for conditions like PTSD and anxiety. Further research is needed to establish VR as a clinical standard, but technological advancements support its growing application.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Virtual Reality (VR) technology is rapidly advancing.
- The integration of VR into clinical practice is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for virtual reality (VR) in psychiatric practice.
- To explore current clinical applications of VR.
- To consider recent technological developments in VR.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on VR in psychiatry.
- Analysis of clinical effectiveness studies.
- Consideration of technological advancements and consumer product releases.
Main Results:
- VR demonstrates clinical effectiveness for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, phobias, chronic pain, rehabilitation, and addictions.
- More research is required to establish VR as a clinical standard in some psychiatric applications.
- Advancements in consumer VR products enhance the viability of developing VR systems for clinical use.
Conclusions:
- VR holds significant promise for improving psychiatric treatment outcomes.
- Continued high-quality research is essential to optimize VR's clinical utility and understand its mechanisms.
- The flexibility of VR technology may lead to superior therapeutic results and a deeper understanding of treatment mechanisms.
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