7 Virtual reality (VR) for the treatment of mental health disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. e3.2-e3
Author(s):  
Daniel Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Clinical Psychologist ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
University Of Oxford ◽  
Computer Environment ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Problematic Situations

Daniel Freeman is an NIHR Research Professor and Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, a consultant clinical psychologist in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, a fellow of University College Oxford, and leads the Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP) research group at the University of Oxford.Daniel has been working with virtual reality (VR) since 2001 and is a founder of Oxford VR, a University of Oxford spinout company.Mental health disorders are very common, but far too few people receive the best treatments. Much greater access to the best psychological treatments may be achieved using automated delivery in virtual reality (VR). With virtual reality simulations, individuals can repeatedly experience problematic situations and be taught, via evidence-based psychological treatments, how to overcome difficulties. A key advantage of VR is that individuals know that a computer environment is not real but their minds and bodies behave as if it is real; hence, people will much more easily face difficult situations in VR than in real life and be able to try out new therapeutic strategies. VR treatments can also be made much more engaging and appealing for patients than traditional therapies. A systematic programme of work developing and testing automated VR psychological treatments will be described, with a particular focus on the gameChange (www.gameChangeVR.com) project for schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Gamification of Immersive Meditation Practice in Virtual Reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Matthew John Moroz ◽  
Bianca Calagiu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Therapeutic Applications ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Prison Populations

Benefits arising from meditation practice gamification are not overtly obvious. Desires to achieve and progress to higher levels, which are common to gaming, seem diametrically opposed to the ethos underlying traditional meditation practice. We propose, however, that a motivation to gain greater wellbeing and enlightenment via mindfulness meditation practice shares more with the motivation to progress through a game than is initially apparent. We begin by explaining how gamification techniques may be employed in meditation practice with a focus on mitigating the five hindrances to successful practice as described in the Theravada tradition. We then highlight the utility of employing virtual reality as a medium for such simulations. We discuss the potential for beneficial therapeutic applications in patients with mental health disorders and prison populations. We conclude by summarising our position and urging increased attention in this increasingly relevant area of research.

scholarly journals A Review Article on Internet-based Psychological Interventions in Primary Care. What is the Global Experience? How Reliable are Results from RCTs? Lessons Learned from the European, US and Australian Case Studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melita Sogomonjan ◽  
Tanel Kerikmäe ◽  
Pille Ööpik
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Use Of Internet

AbstractIn the context of the EU’s Digital Single Market (eHealth) Strategy, the deployment of digital tools for patients’ empowerment and person-centred care is of high demand and importance. Shifting from treatment to health promotion and disease prevention, a variety of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programmes have been proven to be effective for managing common mental health disorders in secondary care even hough the effectiveness and the clinical use of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programmes alone in primary care have not been approved yet. Additionally, such interventions are neither included in the international clinical guidelines for treating common mental health disorders nor regulated by Member States as a healthcare service. Despite that, the UK National Health Service and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare endorse the use of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy as a first treatment option. The aim of this research is to investigate the global experience of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programmes in controlled and real-life conditions in general practice and to evaluate the reliability of the results and concomitantly their compliance with the European Commission’s eHealth Strategy. A systematic review of quantitative studies was conducted from January 2007 to December 2017. The results indicated that unsupported internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programmes alone are less effective than combined therapy options for treatment purposes, if no additional therapy is prescribed. Guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy may supplement traditional treatment methods resulting in improving the control of mental disorders, but are unable to demonstrate consistent quality or replace face-to-face therapy.

Barriers to Optimal Care for Patients with Coexisting Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 792-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fraser C. Todd ◽  
J. Douglas Sellman ◽  
Paul J. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
Health Disorders

Objective: This paper describes qualitative research that was carried out as part of a project aimed at drawing up a series of guidelines for the assessment and management for people with coexisting substance use and mental health disorders, or dual diagnosis [ 1 ]. Method: A core consultation team of 14 experts with experience in the areas of both substance use and mental health in New Zealand was established to advise on the development of eight clinical scenarios. The clinical scenarios were selected to highlight a range of real life issues in the treatment of people with coexisting substance use and mental health disorders and were presented at 12 focus groups around New Zealand. The 261 participants of the focus groups were asked to comment on what was optimal management for each of the scenarios and to identify barriers to optimal care in their region. Written notes were analysed for recurring and strongly stated themes and these comprise the results of the study. Results: While there was marked regional variation in treatment approaches and service structures, many of the barriers to optimal care that were identified were common to all regions. The results are considered under the headings of systems issues, clinical issues and attitudes. Conclusions: A wide variety of barriers that impede the delivery of optimal care have been identified. These range from the attitudes of individual clinicians to the structure of the systems within which they work. A system of key principles and processes for organizing treatment in a way which helps overcome these barriers is proposed.

scholarly journals Prévalence des troubles de santé mentale, motivation au traitement et pertinence des suivis thérapeutiques chez les délinquants sous surveillance dans le District Montréal métropolitain

Criminologie ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manassé Bambonyé
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Professional Care ◽  
Receive Treatment

We have conducted a research on therapeutic follow-ups with delinquents on parole, in Metropolitan Montreal, by analyzing the following characteristics: the clientele's professional care, the proportion of subjects who use the therapeutic follow-ups during their jail term and parole, the relevance of treatment, and the beneficiary's legal status of parole. According to our results, 81% of the subjects had classified clinical diagnostics at DSM III-R; 23,33% for double diagnostics; 14% for substance abuse and 6,67% for mood swings. 85,3% of the clients receive treatment given by psychologists, making it the most popular. Officers estimate that therapeutic follow-ups are pertinent in 91,9% of the cases, when the treatments are given to individuals with behavior problems or mental health disorders, and in 86,6% of the cases, when dealing with clients who are less motivated to take treatment. The results also show that 61,3% of the subjects were involved in therapeutic follow-ups in the last months of incarceration. This percentage proves that subjects who receive psychological treatments during their incarceration are the most likely to continue during parole. Generally speaking, the results were very encouraging and contradict some statements to the effect that there is a lack of motivation in delinquents and that therapeutic follow-ups offered to parole clientele are impertinent. Results also show that the clientele who remains in psychological treatment is motivated to continue the treatment and that these follow-ups are considered pertinent by the clientele.

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