Virtual Reality as an Innovative Tool for Youth Mental Health

Virtual Reality as an Innovative Tool for Youth Mental Health: History

Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Contributor: Victoria J. Blondell , Nicholas D. Thomson

Virtual reality (VR) is a new technological advancement that has been at the forefront of a promising new era of technology-based psychoeducation, therapeutic practices, and interventions. VR offers the ability for individuals to enter an immersive virtual world with opportunities to engage with stimuli that exposes them to situations that otherwise cannot be created or controlled in the real world. Thus, VR presents a viable avenue for research, therapeutic treatment, and socio-emotional learning in adolescents. This entry seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the developing landscape of virtual reality as a means of promoting mental health for youth. We illuminate the robust opportunities for utilizing this new technology in psychological treatment, education, and intervention in adolescents, as well as the unique challenges it presents, and areas that future research should explore.

virtual reality
youth mental health
therapeutic treatment
interventions
technology

In the world at large, technological advancements have accelerated rapidly over the past few decades, including within the field of psychology. Recently, discussions of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), wearable technology, smartphone capabilities, and other cutting-edge devices, have become widespread as their capabilities pose clear potential for enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and research methodologies ^[1]^[2]^[3]. While research is still preliminary, promising results have been found regarding the applicability and utility of these technologies in clinical diagnosis and treatment ^[4]^[5]^[6], as well as in enhancing research methodologies ^[7].

This paper provides a comprehensive review of developments in virtual reality (VR) in adolescent populations. We discuss the ways in which this technology offers strong potential for utilization in research, clinical treatment, and interventional practices. We highlight the future opportunities for further integration of this technology within the field, while still maintaining awareness of the potential challenges it poses. VR presents a significant opportunity for enhancing clinical and research practices, as evidenced by empirical support and early-stage integration. While not in totality, the field has begun to embrace these technologies as a means of enhancing efficiency, accuracy, accessibility, and simulation of realistic, yet highly controllable environments for therapeutic practices ^[8]^[9]^[10].

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/encyclopedia5040215

References

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