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Advances in the use of virtual reality to treat mental health conditions

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From Nature Reviews Psychology

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Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool in the field of mental health. Central to this technology are immersive environments, which enable exposure to highly controlled virtual experiences that feel real. In this Review, we elaborate on the active elements of immersive experiences and how VR-based treatments work. We provide an overview of developments in the use of VR to treat mental health conditions (anxiety, psychotic symptoms, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders, depression and stress management) with a focus on the core mechanisms that drive effective interventions. Artificial intelligence, biofeedback and gamification are emerging areas of development, and we discuss how they might enhance the accessibility, engagement and effectiveness of psychological treatments. Conducting rigorous studies with user-centred designs in diverse populations is a key research priority. As the use of VR in mental health continues to evolve, addressing ethical and implementation considerations is critical for ensuring ongoing treatment improvements.

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Fig. 1: Typical setup of therapist-delivered VR-based treatment.
Fig. 2: Active elements of immersion.
Fig. 3: Example of VR-based exposure therapy.
Fig. 4: Examples of VR-based treatments.
Fig. 5: Sensors and cameras used for real-time updates of the virtual environment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S. Louis for her contributions in reviewing and advising on the research agenda from a lived experience perspective.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Imogen H. Bell, Roos Pot-Kolder.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Imogen H. Bell, Roos Pot-Kolder, Martin Reinoso, Andrew Thompson, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez & Lucia Valmaggia

  2. Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Imogen H. Bell, Roos Pot-Kolder, Martin Reinoso, Andrew Thompson, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez & Lucia Valmaggia

  3. Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, Playa Vista, CA, USA

    Albert Rizzo

  4. Mental Health Research and Treatment Centre, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Mar Rus-Calafell

  5. Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy

    Valentina Cardi

  6. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK

    Valentina Cardi, Matteo Cella, Thomas Ward, Simon Riches & Lucia Valmaggia

  7. Department of Psychiatry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Lucia Valmaggia

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Contributions

I.H.B., R.P.-K. and L.V. conceived the article and drafted, edited and revised the manuscript. I.H.B., R.P.-K., L.V., A.R., M.R.-C., V.C., M.C., T.W., S.R. and M.R. wrote sections of the article, and M.A.J. and A.T. contributed feedback. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript. All authors contributed substantially to discussion of the content and reviewed and/or edited the manuscript before submission.

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Bell, I.H., Pot-Kolder, R., Rizzo, A. et al. Advances in the use of virtual reality to treat mental health conditions. Nat Rev Psychol 3, 552–567 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-024-00334-9

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