Study tests VR-assisted psychotherapy

Games have long been known to have positive effects on people. In England, a study is currently investigating whether virtual reality could perhaps even be used for psychotherapy.

Using VR for therapeutic purposes is nothing new in and of itself, as several Examples show. In the UK, however, a large-scale study into VR-assisted psychotherapy was launched at the beginning of July. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is supporting the study, which is being conducted in collaboration with gameChange is executed with four million British pounds.

"Our VR therapy is intended for people who suffer from illnesses such as schizophrenia and whose anxiety is so severe that even everyday tasks such as using public transport, shopping and communicating with other people become a challenge," says lead researcher Daniel Freeman.

How it works

The idea behind the study is simple. Patients are confronted with relevant everyday situations using virtual reality and can learn to master the situations and develop coping strategies at their own pace. Patients have six different scenarios with different levels of difficulty at their disposal. These include closed rooms and public transport. Each session lasts 30 minutes and is accompanied by a coach.

Currently, 400 patients are being treated with virtual reality and 400 others without VR. At the end, the results will be compared and analysed. The study began on 1 July 2019 and will last a total of 18 months.

Source: playcentral