The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jessica L. Maples-Keller, Emory University; Brian E. Bunnell, Medical University of South Carolina; Sae-Jin Kim, Emory University; Barbara O Rothbaum, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-05-01
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 President and Fellows of Harvard College.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000138
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Harvard Review of Psychiatry
• ISSN: 1067-3229
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 103
• End Page: 113
• Grant/Funding Information: Dr. Rothbaum has funding from Wounded Warrior Project, Department of Defense Clinical Trial Grant No.W81XWH-10-1-1045, “Enhancing Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Virtual Reality and Imaginal Exposure with a Cognitive Enhancer”, National Institute of Mental Health Grant No. 1R01MH094757-01, “Prospective Determination of Psychobiological Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress,” Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD) Distinguished Investigator Grant, “Optimal Dose of early intervention to prevent PTSD”, and McCormick Foundation “Brave Heart: MLB’s Welcome Back Veterans SouthEast Initiative.”
• Keywords: FOLLOW-UP; CLINICAL-TRIAL; IN-VIVO EXPOSURE; PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY; VIETNAM VETERANS; GRADED EXPOSURE; D-CYCLOSERINE; technology; POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER; COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY; anxiety disorders; virtual reality; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Psychiatry; Science & Technology; psychiatric treatment; exposure therapy
• Research Categories: Psychology, Behavioral; Health Sciences, Nursing

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) allows users to experience a sense of presence in a computer-generated, three-dimensional environment. Sensory information is delivered through a head-mounted display and specialized interface devices. These devices track head movements so that the movements and images change in a natural way with head motion, allowing for a sense of immersion. VR, which allows for controlled delivery of sensory stimulation via the therapist, is a convenient and cost-effective treatment. This review focuses on the available literature regarding the effectiveness of incorporating VR within the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, with particular attention to exposure-based intervention for anxiety disorders. A systematic literature search was conducted in order to identify studies implementing VR-based treatment for anxiety or other psychiatric disorders. This article reviews the history of the development of VR-based technology and its use within psychiatric treatment, the empirical evidence for VR-based treatment, and the benefits for using VR for psychiatric research and treatment. It also presents recommendations for how to incorporate VR into psychiatric care and discusses future directions for VR-based treatment and clinical research.