Clinical Virtual Reality: A Brief Review of the Future

Since the mid-1990s, a substantial body of scientific literature has emerged on the outcomes associated with what we now call Clinical Virtual Reality (VR). This use of VR simulation technology has produced encouraging results when applied to address the cognitive, psychological, motor, and functional impairments seen across a wide range of clinical health conditions.

This presentation will provide brief overviews of the various forms of VR technology and describe the trajectory of Clinical VR over the last 30 years as a tool in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders, PTSD, pain management, autism, ADHD, and in the rehabilitation of stroke, brain injury, and other neurologically-based conditions.

The presentation will also include some discussion of the advances in Virtual Human technology for clinical training, healthcare coaching, and clinical interviewing. While much research is still needed to advance the science in this area, the current state of the literature is positive, and technological advances have reduced the costs and complexity of delivering this type of care in everyday practice. I will argue that Clinical VR applications are set to become indispensable tools in the toolbox of healthcare researchers and practitioners, growing in relevance, impact, and popularity in the near future.

This talk will be helpful for people who are just now learning about VR and want to know how it can be usefully applied in the pro-social area of healthcare, beyond just gaming and entertainment applications. Experts in either VR or healthcare will get a concise and informed perspective on the state of R&D in the field moving into the future.