Mental Health therapy in Metaverse

What is a Metaverse

An immersive encounter similar to a real-world interaction can be had in the graphically rich virtual world known as the metaverse. It is a place where "Avatars," or computerised human counterparts of people, can mingle in social and professional contexts. An employee, for example, may use a VR headset to communicate with coworkers, explore a virtual office, and interact with an AI-controlled virtual assistant.

The metaverse is here to stay, whether you love it, hate it, or just don't get it. It opens up entirely new vistas of potential in every aspect of daily life, from making new friends to going shopping for clothes and makeup to attending live performances like musical concerts and stand-up comedy shows.

Mental health therapy is another field that might profit from the metaverse's potential advantages. Mental health professionals are enthusiastic about the metaverse's potential to deliver fully immersive experiences to a global audience with ease, efficiency, and, hopefully, economic viability, despite the fact that it may seem like an unlikely candidate.

The metaverse's provision of mental health services

The possibilities for healing habitats in the metaverse are endless. An immersive, entirely interactive, and flawlessly seamless 3D virtual world is referred to as the "metaverse." In the past 20 years, advances in artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and hyperconnectivity with 5G networks have all been made. As a result, it is a fantastic way to help treat mental health conditions.

The patient and the therapist can interact in a 3D world that is incredibly lifelike. In this scenario, an avatar fills the function of the therapist. The patient establishes a connection from their house, selects an avatar, and enters a virtual space to sit in an armchair or recline on a couch or walk into an office. The therapist practically has free rein to decorate the space whatever they choose. Through the use of interactive phobia simulators, lectures, books, and guided meditation, the therapist can deliver efficient therapy with the click of a mouse.

What distinguishes virtual reality therapy from traditional therapy?

The delivery of mental health services and support online is known as telepsychology or teletherapy, sometimes known as online therapy, e-therapy, or zoom counselling. Practitioners of telepsychology now have access to more sophisticated communications equipment.

Virtual reality treatment is distinct from teletherapy, in which a client communicates with a therapist via video chat rather than physically visiting an office. Because they immerse users in a digital environment typically involving the usage of a virtual world, such as a computer game or headset, computer-simulated worlds (CSWs), when properly implemented, offer a significant form of treatment for many mental health issues.

The advantages of the Metaverse for mental health

Virtual reality therapy has the potential to increase access to mental health care. The need for patients to travel to appointments will end. They may benefit from VR therapy if they have limited mobility, are recovering from trauma, are dealing with chronic pain, crippling phobias, or any of these conditions. With more control over situations than is possible with memory or imagination alone, this technology's "sense of presence" may elicit emotional reactions and promote self-reflection in patients. In virtual reality, a more secure environment is created, facilitating the communication of unpleasant thoughts, painful emotions, and experiences, which may make situations less intimidating for patients who are particularly vulnerable.

Potentially harmful impacts of the Metaverse

Virtual reality "hangovers" and depression are both common occurrences. The likelihood that someone may experience sadness and depression after returning to reality increases with the fantastical nature of the immersive encounter.

Motion sickness, privacy, child safety, the cost of the equipment, desensitisation, and the possibility of identity theft are some more issues.

Virtual reality has advantages over traditional psychology.

Virtual reality enables the therapist to use a variety of therapies without the need for in-person exposure, including exposure therapy, systematic desensitisation, diaphragmatic breathing, muscular relaxation, mindfulness, and EMDR. To accomplish a therapeutic objective, the therapist may reenact particular tense situations as often as required. A recent study on people with chronic pain found that VR therapy helped patients report less pain and distress.

Virtual therapy supports traditional therapeutic approaches

Virtual reality therapy need not be used in place of traditional medicine. Traditional therapeutic methods are crucial for treating more severe mental health disorders. However, virtual therapy gives mental health professionals the choice to provide care regardless of the circumstances and maintain patient interventions if conventional treatment falls short in terms of cost or convenience.

VR techniques and conditions that might respond well to treatment

Five therapeutic modalities—from exposure and distraction to motivation, assessment, and engagement—incorporate virtual reality.

According to the study, VR exposure led to a more notable decrease in fear than relaxation training.

The following mental health issues can benefit from using metaverse simulations:

Disorders of eating, Addiction, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety, Autism Alzheimer's condition, Management of pain and stress. Schizophrenia, psychosis, and delusions.

CBT and virtual reality: extending treatment to all people

In this particular field of psychology, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) combined with virtual reality (VR) has shown to be a revolutionary tool. Utilizing CBT techniques, virtual reality technology can be employed at home or in a clinic. Additionally, therapists can use VR technology as a useful tool to construct complex, difficult, or moderate scenarios because it has a variety of control levels. Those who desire trauma-based CBT but are concerned about the likelihood of in vivo exposure may find this key component of the technology to be exciting. Its use in clinical settings is supported by the fact that numerous studies have demonstrated its viability and effectiveness.

VR-based exposure therapy

By exposing the patient to anxiety-inducing situations in the real world gradually, exposure therapy is a behaviour treatment used to treat anxiety disorders. The individual might eventually be in a position to face the terrifying situation with less fear.

VR therapy has been shown in numerous studies to reduce the length of anxiety treatment, making it more inexpensive. Additionally, it can help therapists provide exposure therapy in accessible ways in person or online therapy sessions, as well as in emergency rooms and hospitals.

VR-based addiction treatment

High-risk settings and cue reactivity are significant factors that may have an impact on recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Virtual reality can let patients be exposed to specific stimuli without the risk of an actual, high-risk circumstance.

For people struggling with addiction, virtual reality presents a controlled setting. By using specific triggers, it anticipates a future high-risk occurrence in the real world and induces cravings. Patients are able to learn and perfect additional behavioural actions or preventative coping abilities as a result of this regular but controlled virtual cue exposure.

CPD and training in the metaverse

Psychologists, aspiring therapists, and trainees can hone their metaverse abilities by practising on AI avatars with intricate mental health profiles and surviving challenging situations. It is also possible to attend conferences, seminars, and lectures virtually.

For those in need of mental health treatment, the metaverse offers a wealth of innovative therapeutic resources. This rapidly developing technology has the potential to significantly improve access to mental healthcare given the current severe shortage of mental health professionals.