Treating Behavioral Addictions With Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Addiction Research
• Immersive Technology in Mental Health
• Digital Therapeutics

Background:

• Growing use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for substance and gambling disorders.
• Limited exploration of AR/VR for other behavioral addictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Provide an overview of AR/VR interventions for behavioral addictions.
• Identify behavioral addictions treated with AR/VR.
• Characterize AR/VR treatment approaches used.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review following Arksey, O'Malley, Levac, and JBI frameworks.
• Searched CINAHL, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google.
• Included studies on any behavioral addiction/harm treated with AR/VR; excluded sexual disorders.

Main Results:

• 9 studies reviewed: 4 on gaming, 5 on gambling disorders.
• Only VR was used, for cue exposure therapy and skills training.
• VR therapy was effective alone or combined with other treatments, comparable to traditional methods.

Conclusions:

• VR is efficacious for behavioral addictions, potentially replacing or augmenting traditional methods.
• Future research should explore VR with psychotherapy, other addictions, and side effects.
• VR shows promise for behavioral addiction treatment, though AR yielded no results in this review.