Whether it’s Facebook’s metaverse or medical training, virtual reality continues to evolve and develop in a number of ways. Researchers of virtual reality are carrying things out in a variety of different pathways. But can we start using VR for therapy?
Exposure therapy
Ivana Steigman (a researcher, MD, Ph.D.) is looking at a new way to use virtual reality. She asks, can VR be used for therapy? According to Steigman, when you ask a patient to visualize a circumstance, talk therapy has a flaw. A person can’t always imagine things correctly. However, if someone is suffering from alcoholism, virtual reality may be useful. VR can transport them to a ‘bar,’ which may be more helpful than having them just visualize it. It’s also safer than putting the patient in an actual bar.
For example, say a patient’s depression is triggered by conflict. Placing them in a simulated conflict situation may be useful. Moreover, this provides patients with the opportunity to experience these circumstances in a realistic yet controlled environment. They can ‘leave’ at any time or replay the situation until they react in a more healthy manner. Thankfully, researchers have conducted studies on how effective it can be. One group of researchers found that virtual reality can be an effective form of exposure therapy for soldiers with PTSD.
Reducing mental health stigma
Reducing the stigma of mental illness has been a goal of many people for years. Virtual reality can achieve this. Older Gen Zers may be old enough to enroll in the army. If those Gen Zers return with PTSD, they may be more inclined to seek treatment if VR therapy is available. Why? Games like Call of Duty and Fortnite were and continue to be hugely popular in this generation’s lives. Unsurprisingly, VR-created realities resemble these games. As a result, Gen Zers may be more willing to participate in this form of therapy. They can see a familiar virtual environment.
Avatar vs. real person
In addition to feeling ashamed about therapy, there is also a fear to share your thoughts with another human. This is especially true when you are sharing those thoughts with a stranger you just met. But what if this individual wasn’t a person in the physical room with you, but rather in a virtual room? According to newly published research, 30% of participants felt more comfortable sharing their bad experiences with an avatar! This suggests that virtual reality may be able to attract a previously disinterested audience to therapy. An audience that may have needed therapy but was previously too reluctant to participate.
While virtual reality treatment is still in its early stages, the research that has already been conducted is unquestionably significant to how we approach mental health in our society. With virtual reality, we might be able to further de-stigmatize mental health and get closer to normalizing therapy and all of its potential advantages.
