Virtual Reality Therapy
- Mark Lauria
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) is the use of computer generated simulations to make patients believe they are experiencing a different set and setting. 1 Counselors aid patients guiding them through their thoughts and emotions, and providing suggestions on how to address situations.
VRT has been observed to help people suffering from various ailments, including anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and pain management.
Bravemind for PTSD
Bravemind is a VRT exposure therapy system, that creates 14 different “worlds” of combat scenarios, such as deserts and crowded market places, similar to those veterans had experienced in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Dr. Albert Rizzo, who created the system, reported that the technology enables veterans to discuss things “they’ve never talked to anyone about before.” By repeated exposure to troubling memories in a safe environment, the brain’s responses to them are reduced. Users can also decide the pace at which they traverse these experiences, helping to prevent them from becoming overwhelmed.
Bravemind is one of many examples for which VRT can be used to treat PTSD.
Anxiety
Virtual reality therapy has been shown to significantly aid reduce anxiety levels. In June 2022, Princeton House began using a virtual reality program called Coping with Anxiety Through Virtual Reality for patients suffering from anxiety disorders without substance disorders.
In group sessions, participants were given VR headsets and asked to select two short programs. For the first part, they chose breathing and mindfulness exercises, as well as guided relaxation programs. They were then asked to focus on guided imagery and distractions, like walking on a tropical beach or through the streets of Paris.
Over 100 patients participated in the virtual reality group. In a survey after the sessions, participants reported an average of a 35 percent reduction in anxiety after the program and a 4.75 out of 5 rating for helpfulness. 2
Pain management
“Virtual environments head use tracking systems, tactile feedback, and highly stimulating visual and auditory sensations. In this way, the individual becomes immersed in the virtual world, taking attention away from the perception of pain” 3.
Despite a lack of evidence for enhancing pain tolerance, the distractions that users experience in virtual environments has been shown to decrease heart rate, anxiety and discomfort from pain. In addition, virtual reality changes the way painful sensations are handled, through activation of the visual cortex and additional sensations. Although it can be costly is limited in with use, with the development of technology, “VR has become a more adaptable and accessible tool for pain relief.”
Conclusion
Virtual reality therapy has been observed to reduce anxiety, pain, phobias and PTSD symptoms. Although it cannot completely eradicate pain or enhance tolerance, it is a form of therapy that has shown efficacy, alongside more conventional therapies, such as a medication and psychotherapy. Patients seeking therapy for their own ailments may benefit from considering VRT in addition, or alongside medication and psychotherapy.
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
