The effectiveness of virtual reality to improve depression: A systematic evidence map

This study aims to systematically integrate the evidence based on meta-analysis of the efficacy of virtual reality on depressive symptoms in various populations.

We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP) from inception to December 31, 2024. This study used an evidence map approach to integrate the included meta-analyses, to assess the effectiveness of virtual reality in treating depression, and to explore the impact of different groups and intervention characteristics on efficacy.

A total of 27 meta-analyses were included, from which 33 outcomes were extracted for analysis. The quality assessment revealed that a significant majority of these outcomes (69.70%, 23/33) stemmed from MAs classified as low or critically low quality. The bubble chart indicated that the majority (75.8%, 25/33) supported the beneficial impact of virtual reality in improving depressive symptoms. These meta-analyses encompassed 129 independent original studies involving 6639 participants across multiple diverse populations. Positive effects were observed for populations with chronic non-neoplastic diseases, cancer, degenerative diseases, cognitive impairment, and those in special care scenarios. However, the effect on patients with mental and psychological disorders remains unclear.

Virtual reality interventions represent a promising approach in improving depressive symptoms, particularly in settings where conventional therapies are difficult to implement. Future research should focus on accumulating high-quality evidence and encompass a broader range of individuals at high risk of depression to enhance the generalizability of virtual reality applications in managing depression.