The Scope of Virtual Reality in Mental healthcare
Awareness about mental health has skyrocketed in the
last decade. Much research has come out in recent years have shown that mental health problems among the general population is higher than what was originally thought of people. It shattered the illusion that only a select few suffer from these problems. And as a result, people are now aware that mental health problems deserve attention as much as physical health. Nowadays, fortunately, there are many treatment options out there for those who suffer from this problem. They can get help from a therapist from a variety of disciplines, which can help them to overcome or cope with their disease. They can even get help from specialists who are experts in treating certain diseases
The way patients are treated also has evolved over the years. Experts have introduced many techniques and tools, to better diagnose and treat disease.
Pandemics, however, have shown that psychological treatments can be done in new ways with the help of technology. Many therapists continue to treat their patients using a technology such as a video conferencing. It has helped thousands of patients to continue their treatment process, without worrying about the risks associated with face-to-face consultations.
Virtual reality is one such technology that has the potential to revolutionize mental health. Technology, which really immerses people into an alternate reality, has a lot of possibilities that the therapist can explore. Appearance Let's look at some of them:
Treatment
VR can be used to treat various types of mental illness, including PTSD and phobias. It was first shown by Dr.Rizzo, known as the father of the clinical virtual reality industry.
Back in 2003, he started a program called Bravemind with US troops. The program aims to assist returning US soldiers to overcome their PTSD with the help of VR. The program exposed the soldiers to an environment similar to what they were exposed to during their time serving in the army. This allows them to work through their emotions and recover better.
Phobias can be treated equally. Leading technique used to treat phobias such as fear of heights or snakes is exposure therapy. Under exposure therapy, patients are gradually exposed to their fears. This made getting stronger stimulus to the patient fears disappear.
For example, if a patient has a fear of heights, they can be brought to the top of a small building first. Then the therapist can be gradually increased with increasing altitude as the patient becomes more accustomed to and they finally were able to cope with the higher altitude without fear.
In VR, this can be done by simulating the patient experiences fear. This will give the therapist more control over the entire process. It also will make the experience that much more secure.
Additionally, VR also allows the therapist to provide better health mental secluded. In a virtual reality setting, the patient will feel like a therapist right next to them, which will make them more comfortable. As opposed to a video conference, where the patient may feel disconnected from the therapist. This approach can help patients better opening and therapists to help them better then even if they are far away.
Already, there are many services available for virtual reality headset that therapists can be used for treatment. Psious applications such as providing 70 + virtual reality environment that therapists can immerse their patients.
Diagnosis
One disadvantage many quotes about traditional mental health diagnosis process is that it relies on pen and paper. Typically, patients are asked to fill out a questionnaire and, on the answers,, the therapist understand the disease. But sometimes this method may not give the therapist all the details they need.
But by using a virtual reality together with this questionnaire the therapist can gain more insight into their patient's disease.
This is illustrated by a group of researchers who are trying to diagnose Alzheimer's using VR. One of the symptoms of Alzheimer's including spatial disorientation. In the study mentioned, the researchers drowning person in a virtual environment and test their navigational skills. The researchers concluded that VR better navigation tests to identify the onset of Alzheimer's than many of the methods used today.
We can be sure that researchers will use similar methods in the future to diagnose other diseases.
help themselves
While not a substitute for therapy to treat the disease much less severe mental health self-help, when used wisely, can help people overcome their mental problems.
eg smartphone users can use the self-help applications to solve some of their problems. Many of them like What's Up? using the principles of therapeutic approaches such as CBT and ACT. Using this application, people can get the help they deserve without stigma or violate their bank.
Virtual reality can take this one step further. With virtual reality, people can get the help of an AI-powered virtual therapist. This virtual therapist can guide patients and better, similar to how smartphone apps do now, but only better.
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Some mental health experts caution against this approach, however. Because the treatment itself can cause many problems. People may even refuse to get professional help to think they can do it themselves when they actually can not.
But the self VR applications may have their own space in the future. If not as a standalone treatment option, then at least as a supplement to the real therapy.
Conclusion
VR has the potential to become an integral part of mental health care in the future. many features can help therapists provide better care for their patients.
If you want to build a mental health VR application, you can hire the services of our VR development. We are a team of experts VR to develop solutions that adhere to strict guidelines.
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