Robert Lamb has an article up today about researchers who are using virtual reality environments to help cigarette smokers kick the habit.
As Robert explains in his story, there are a number of other adaptations of real life situations into virtual worlds that have been used as a kind of therapy.
Discovery News' Kasey-Dee Gardner looked at a program called "Virtual Iraq," which Robert references in his piece, that is intended to help war veterans recover from mental conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, related to their experiences in combat.
In a separate study published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a team of scientists examined how a virtual reality program called FearNot! could help schoolchildren cope with bullying. The researchers looked at the effects of the program on primary school children in the United Kingdom and Germany.
More from ScienceDaily:
"The software was a virtual school with 3D pupils who assumed the roles that children take when bullying occurs, either as the bully, victim or bystander. These characters were then used to improvise real-life bullying incidents and pupils could interact with the characters and suggest ways to cope with or resolve the situation. Although the effect was only short-term, researchers suggest longer interventions could have a more sustained impact."
Other virtual reality programs have helped participants overcome their fears, ranging from spiders to heights to public speaking, cope with their addictions and lose weight. Virtual therapy has even helped patients cope with real pain as a result of physical injury or trauma.
The range of applications for these simulated environments begs the question: Can these virtual programs treat virtually anything?
Well, no, and certainly no one is making that argument. Still, it's worth acknowledging the limits of virtual therapy. Although these programs can help some users cope with their specific health concerns, virtual therapy is by no means a silver bullet.
First, virtual environments only serve as supplements to actual therapy. The smoking cessation program referenced in Robert's story was part of a broader anti-smoking treatment regimen. "Virtual Iraq" was also part of a larger program of therapy.
Second, by the users' own admissions, the virtual environments are only effective in some cases. Twenty-three percent of participants reported thinking back to the virtual environment when they had the urge to smoke. There was a 26 percent decrease in "victimization" reported amongst the children who took part in the bullying study.
Finally, virtual reality can only take users so far. Not only are there users who are bound to reject virtual therapy based on the nature of the treatment, but there are also some mental health/behavioral issues that may not translate so well into virtual worlds. For example, simulated environments may be able to help some users tackle fears or addictions, but they may not be so effective at assisting others with paranoia or psychosis. However, this point is admittedly speculative.
That said, for those users who actually see real progress from their virtual experiences, the programs are much more than simple fun and games.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
COMMENTS (0)