For example, using virtual situations to immerse anxious patients in situations that make them anxious, called exposure therapy, may be one way to conduct this type of therapy, according to Wired. The exposure in virtual reality can prepare the patient to face the situation in reality later.
In the past, the systems have been far too expensive to implement in patient care, but they are gradually becoming more affordable, according to the report. Smartphones have helped to drive down the cost of VR units through increased demand and lower prices of parts such as gyroscopes and accelerometers, and some even use the smartphone as a primary device.
The systems show promise for helping to alleviate pain in burn victims. One program, SnowWorld, is a first-person action game designed to distract the patient from their pain. Other games have also been shown to reduce pain in some patients, according to the report.
