German Techniker Krankenkasse offers VR therapy

In cooperation with the Hamburg-based company Sympatient, Techniker Krankenkasse offers a digital therapy with VR against anxiety disorders.

The therapy called "InvirtoThe "VR" allows for digital treatment of anxiety disorders in one's own home. It was developed by the Hamburg-based company Sympatient. The app includes training videos and exercises. However, a psychotherapist accompanies the therapy at least by telephone.

Patients are examined in a classic outpatient setting at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein before starting such a digital therapy. Based on the diagnosis, they are sent home with access to the app as well as VR glasses. This allows them to decide on their own when to watch which videos and complete exercises. According to Dr Jens Baar, head of Techniker Krankenkasse, which now offers this form of therapy, this is a very attractive therapy option, especially in regions with few specialised therapists and long travel distances. According to studies, more than ten million people in Germany suffer from an anxiety disorder every year.

Therapy is scientifically accompanied

Eight hours of training materials are available in the app, and there are also four hours of VR visuals for seven different anxiety scenarios. The patient must repeatedly answer questions about his or her condition. In crisis situations, specialised staff from the university hospital make contact, and patients can also dial emergency numbers. Julian Angern, one of the founders of Sympatient, says there was a strong focus on protecting patient data during development. "That's also why we had our software audited by an external body in terms of security." Invirto is a CE-certified medical device.

To participate, you must be insured with the Techniker Krankenkasse. The health insurance company reimburses the therapy in full. Scientists are accompanying the first patients as part of a study.

There are already several studies and trials on anxiety therapy with VR, as we already shown have. The fact that a health insurance company is willing to cover the costs is a good sign that VR is becoming more widely accepted in the treatment of mental disorders.

Source: heise