While the gaming community has long embraced virtual reality for entertainment, its application in psychology and medicine is rapidly expanding, with VR now showing promise as a therapeutic tool.
To that point, new research by UMCG psychiatrist Wim Veling suggests that virtual reality (VR) may help people with psychosis—and may even work faster than traditional cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health defines psychosis as a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, involving a loss of contact with reality. During an episode of psychosis, a person’s thoughts and perceptions may be disrupted, making it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is not.
CBT has long been used to treat conditions such as PTSD, depressive disorders, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD), phobias, and more.
Veling’s new findings could benefit millions of people around the world struggling with mental health conditions. “I hope that this application of Virtual Reality will soon be available in all mental health care facilities,” Veling said in a statement.
CBT is widely considered one of the most effective psychological treatments for managing paranoid thoughts in individuals with psychotic disorders. In his recent study, Veling compared the effectiveness of VR-based CBT with standard therapy approaches. “With Virtual Reality, we can better focus on reducing avoidance behaviour and relearning safety. And that is crucial for the effect of the treatment,” he said. “With Virtual Reality, we can better expose patients to their paranoid fears in a controlled manner.”
The study was conducted across seven mental health centers in the Netherlands and Belgium, involving a total of 98 participants. It was made possible with support from the Hersenstichting (Dutch Brain Foundation).
Using VR, patients practiced navigating social situations that might trigger paranoia or situational anxiety. Simulated environments included scenarios such as shopping in a virtual supermarket or riding a bus, providing a safe and controlled exposure.
Veling described one type of treatment scenario: “Standing in line at the supermarket checkout is difficult when you are suspicious. People are looking at you, you have to talk to the cashier, and you can’t leave. In Virtual Reality, you can practise how to deal with such a situation, how to reduce avoidance and anxiety, and just do your shopping.”
With the help of VR and guidance from a therapist, patients were able to let go of paranoid beliefs and test out different outcomes in a safe and repeatable manner. The VR experience could also be tailored to each client and revisited until therapeutic goals were achieved.
Veling reported that the team’s results are promising. “It appears that Virtual Reality therapy works very well for people with psychosis and reduces their extreme suspicion and anxiety,” he says.
“When we look at factors such as paranoia, depression, avoidance, self-confidence, and anxiety, it may even work somewhat better than the current standard treatment,” Veling added. “And with Virtual Reality, people need an average of 15% fewer sessions, which shows that the therapy works faster!”
The next step is to engage mental health care centers and practitioners in using VR as a potential treatment solution. “We are actively looking for more efficient treatments in mental health care. This appears to be an efficient treatment that will enable us to help more people. People recover sooner and need fewer sessions,” says Veling.
Looking ahead, Veling is exploring whether artificial intelligence could partially automate VR-based therapy. “We’re investigating whether some sessions could be conducted without a psychologist. If that proves effective and patients are comfortable with automated sessions, it could significantly help reduce waiting lists,” he explained.
“I expect to see the first results from this study within the next three years,” he added. The recent study was published by the Cambridge University Press.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com.