N Tsamitros1,2,3, A Beck4,5, M Sebold4, M Schouler-Ocak6,4, F Bermpohl6,4, S Gutwinski6,4. 1. Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus/Institutsambulanz, Müllerstr. 56-58, 13349, Berlin, Deutschland. nikolaos.tsamitros@charite.de. 2. Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland. nikolaos.tsamitros@charite.de. 3. Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland. nikolaos.tsamitros@charite.de. 4. Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland. 5. Fakultät Gesundheit, Health and Medical University, Campus Potsdam, Potsdam, Deutschland. 6. Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus/Institutsambulanz, Müllerstr. 56-58, 13349, Berlin, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) enables immersion in an interactive digital world with realistic experiences, that can be applied for controlled and personalized interventions. This review summarizes the current research on VR in the treatment of mental disorders. METHODS: Selective literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS: An increasing number of publications report the therapeutic application of VR for the treatment of mental disorders. Most VR applications are based on established therapy approaches, such as exposure therapy. According to meta-analytic data, virtual exposure therapy (VRET) for specific phobia and agoraphobia with panic disorder is as effective as traditional in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of social phobia is significantly more effective than waitlist and placebo control groups with, however, currently inconsistent metanalytic results when compared to in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is similar in effectiveness compared to active psychotherapy. For psychosis, positive results have been reported for the VR-based treatment of auditory verbal hallucinations. For patients with a substance use disorder, VR can induce craving, with still unverified diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. CONCLUSIONS: VRET can broaden the psychotherapy options for anxiety disorders. Encouraging results of VR-based treatments for psychosis and PTSD indicate the need for further research concerning its effectiveness and safety. In the field of substance use disorders, evaluation of clinical-orientated VR applications is needed.
BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) enables immersion in an interactive digital world with realistic experiences, that can be applied for controlled and personalized interventions. This review summarizes the current research on VR in the treatment of mental disorders. METHODS: Selective literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS: An increasing number of publications report the therapeutic application of VR for the treatment of mental disorders. Most VR applications are based on established therapy approaches, such as exposure therapy. According to meta-analytic data, virtual exposure therapy (VRET) for specific phobia and agoraphobia with panic disorder is as effective as traditional in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of social phobia is significantly more effective than waitlist and placebo control groups with, however, currently inconsistent metanalytic results when compared to in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is similar in effectiveness compared to active psychotherapy. For psychosis, positive results have been reported for the VR-based treatment of auditory verbal hallucinations. For patients with a substance use disorder, VR can induce craving, with still unverified diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. CONCLUSIONS: VRET can broaden the psychotherapy options for anxiety disorders. Encouraging results of VR-based treatments for psychosis and PTSD indicate the need for further research concerning its effectiveness and safety. In the field of substance use disorders, evaluation of clinical-orientated VR applications is needed.
Authors: Emily Carl; Aliza T Stein; Andrew Levihn-Coon; Jamie R Pogue; Barbara Rothbaum; Paul Emmelkamp; Gordon J G Asmundson; Per Carlbring; Mark B Powers Journal: J Anxiety Disord Date: 2018-08-10
Authors: Jonathan I Bisson; Lucy Berliner; Marylene Cloitre; David Forbes; Tine K Jensen; Catrin Lewis; Candice M Monson; Miranda Olff; Stephen Pilling; David S Riggs; Neil P Roberts; Francine Shapiro Journal: J Trauma Stress Date: 2019-07-08
Authors: Anne Beck; Torsten Wüstenberg; Alexander Genauck; Jana Wrase; Florian Schlagenhauf; Michael N Smolka; Karl Mann; Andreas Heinz Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2012-08
Authors: Tom Kj Craig; Mar Rus-Calafell; Thomas Ward; Julian P Leff; Mark Huckvale; Elizabeth Howarth; Richard Emsley; Philippa A Garety Journal: Lancet Psychiatry Date: 2017-11-23 Impact factor: 27.083