2 Ways Virtual Reality Might Help Treatment of Mental Disorders

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Introduction

Despite the various downsides of the Metaverse and VR, such devices can be implemented in a way that positively improves certain mental disorders, such as PTSD. Since the dawn of the COVID pandemic, mental disorders have been exacerbated. This is due to multiple lockdowns in the early stages of the pandemic and social isolation. In this blog post, I will briefly write about how certain mental health disorders can be managed using VR by 2 techniques.

A short story...

Before we begin to elaborate further on this topic, there is a short story that heavily relates to this blog and is one of the reasons for having published it. There was a man who struggled. He could not communicate fluidly and easily with others. He could not resist the icicle like stares of others. He could not leave an awkward situation without being flustered. This was all happening in a virtual reality simulation at a research lab in Orygen University. Researchers are devising a technique in which people are exposed to social pressures in a virtual environment and learn to face their weaknesses. This could be a good strategy to combat anxiety disorders during the COVID pandemic because of the increased isolation of people from their space. VR is a device that can work anywhere and can carry a virtual environment everywhere, so it would ignore the fact of social isolation. (Topsfield, 2023).

Exposure Therapy

The strategy used above in the story is a VR therapy technique called exposure therapy. Exposure therapy can help with symptoms related to anxiety and PTSD. The therapy used a VR headset that is worn by the patient. The headset projects a computerized environment while the patient is in a safe controlled environment. Exposure therapy aims to reduce the intensity of responses patients have when exposed to their trigger. Reminding the patient that the "real" environment is safe and controlled may reduce their tendency to overreact to a trigger when the computerized environment presents one. Overall, Exposure Therapy is a potentially effective method to positively adapt patients to their triggers.

Attention Therapy

Attention Therapy is another therapy used to combat mental health crises. Usually, the patient wears a VR headset, and is presented a computerized environment. However, unlike exposure therapy, the environment is calm with certain visual and auditory stimuli. The visual and auditory stimuli appear/disappear in irregular intervals. The stimuli can be used to gauge and improve the patient's ability to maintain focus and attention, which is important for mental disorders similar to ADHD. Overall, Attention Therapy can be an effective alternative to exposure therapy for specific mental disorders. (Rosenbaum, A. S., 2021).

Conclusion

Exposure and attention therapy and 2 potentially good ways to curb the rising number of mental health cases, during an age of digital revolution. The establishment of VR is what led to new techniques being developed and can lead to more possibilities/improvements in healthcare.

References

Topsfield, J. (2023, January 1). How virtual reality is helping young people with their mental      health. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.smh.com.au/ 
     lifestyle/health-and-wellness/ 
     how-virtual-reality-is-helping-young-people-with-their-mental-health-20221208-p5c4ub.html?ref=rss 

Rosenbaum, A. S. (Ed.). (2021, March). Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET). Retrieved February      5, 2023, from https://www.brainline.org/treatment-hub/virtual-reality-exposure-therapy-vret