How Virtual Reality is aiding Mental Healthcare.
                     HOW VIRTUAL 
REALITY IS AIDING 
MENTAL HEALTHCARE
INTRODUCTION
• Technology has seen an increasing role in 
healthcare, with the new level of interest into 
technology-based solutions for many of the 
ongoing health challenges. 
• However, virtual reality (VR) has already begun 
to be used to assist with treatment of mental 
health issues, such as anxiety disorders and 
phobias.
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Source: www.med-technews.com
What is VR-
enabled therapy?
• VR-enabled therapy is the use of virtual reality 
technology for psychological therapy. 
• Patients navigate through digitally created 
environments and complete specially designed 
tasks tailored to treat a specific ailment.
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Source: www.med-technews.com
Delivering better mental 
health outcomes
• VR-enabled therapy is a proven way to deliver 
rapid, lasting improvements in mental health. 
• Multiple clinical trials show how results are at 
least as good as, if not better than, face-to-face 
therapy. 
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Source: www.med-technews.com
Deliver high quality 
treatment 
• VR-enabled therapy is automated and the 
therapist is embedded within the programme, as 
an avatar, it enables evidence-based treatment 
to be delivered faster than traditional therapy 
and can facilitate a large increase in the number 
of patients who can be treated. 
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Source: www.med-technews.com
Provides a better 
experience for patients
• The VR environments and activities are so 
compelling and immersive that both the data 
and patient testimonies show that users find 
therapy easy to engage with and even fun to 
use.
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Source: www.med-technews.com
Cost saving potential
• With VR-enabled therapy there is an upfront 
investment to create the treatment; however 
there will be large cost-savings when used by 
many people.
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Source: www.med-technews.com
Responds to increasing 
expectations of patients
• Patients find it easier to do the therapy in the 
virtual world and they enjoy using VR 
applications. Patients say it’s an incredible 
experience. 
• Younger patients are also very willing to use VR 
too. 
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Source: www.med-technews.com
USES OF VR IN PSYCHIATRY
• VR has been used in conjunction with counseling 
and cognitive behavior therapy for the 
treatment of addictions. 
• The scenario where addiction behavior is very 
likely to occur is replicated using VR, so that the 
counselor can observe their behavior and 
reaction to it. 
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Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy, refers to a type of 
therapy in which the therapist helps patients 
identify and change maladaptive thoughts to 
healthier thinking.
• Research demonstrates that CBT, when 
combined with virtual reality therapy, is more 
effective than CBT used alone.
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Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Stress Management
• One of the more popular techniques used in 
therapy is stress management or meditation, 
which helps patients learn how to relax and 
improve their mood.
• VR experiences potentially can be incorporated 
into therapy.
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Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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