Researchers excited by virtual reality’s potential in treating psychosis

Researchers at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) are enthusiastic about the possibilities regarding the use of virtual reality (VR) to treat people with psychosis. According to a study by the psychiatrist Wim Veling, VR works “at least as effectively” as standard cognitive behavioral therapy, which is currently the main treatment used to help people with psychosis overcome paranoid ideas or fears.

A significant benefit of using VR is that it works quickly than behavioral therapy, the researchers concluded. VR can, for example, be used to expose patients to their fears in a controlled way.

For the study, patients used virtual reality to practice handling situations that give them a great deal of fear in their regular lives. Having to do groceries in a hectic supermarket, for example, or taking a trip on the bus. They were guided by therapists, who encouraged them to let go of avoidant behavior and to “test paranoid beliefs.”

The results are “promising,” the researchers think. The therapy proved to be an effective way of taking away extreme suspicions and fears.

A total of 98 patients took part in the study. They were divided into two groups. One group received the standard treatment, while the other half underwent therapy with VR. That, incidentally, is also a form of cognitive behavioral therapy. The results were published in the scientific journal Psychological Medicine.

Veling hopes for a swift implementation of VR in mental health care. Over the coming years, he is also investigating whether some sessions can be conducted with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) without a psychologist. The idea is that, if patients accept this and it proves successful, it could help shorten waiting lists.