Virtual reality therapy for treatment of psychological disorders

Abstract

Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) is a new innovative modality of therapy that allows clients to enter a computer-generated virtual world in order to be exposed to fear-provoking stimuli similar to their real world experiences. VRT has become an important treatment alternative for psychologists; scientists have used VRT for cognitive therapies and structural desensitization of patients suffering from a variety of psychological disorders. One pioneering use of VRT has been its application in the treatment of phobic disorders. With proper techniques and provisions, scientists can conduct experiments providing results that suggest that VRT is a useful addition to or a replacement for traditional therapy techniques.