THE USE OF VIRTUAL REALITY IN THE TREATMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER

Shaik Rafijani*, Mehnaaz Alam and Likitha Ch.

ABSTRACT

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of the three-dimensional environment with which one can interact in a real way. VR is a phenomenon in which users are “immersed” in a computer-generated environment via a human-computer interface, wherein the user can naturally “interact” with the virtual features or items. VR provides rich visual and auditory stimuli, as well as peripheral tactile and olfactory stimuli. These sensations help the users to feel and remember VR in a realistic manner. The subjective feeling that a user experiences as “being there” is called “presence”. Although the users are aware that VR is not real, they can be mistaken that the simulations are real instances and feel that they have experienced in reality, the events that have occurred in the VR. Within the controlled and safe environment of VR, experimenters can manipulate the VR environment as required to test different hypotheses on human behaviour. Simultaneously users can repeatedly experience a situation and control the environment themselves. In addition, with the development of bio-signal recognition technology and big data technology, bio-signal data of VR users, such as head movement, body movement, and heart rate can be collected and analyzed using artificial intelligence algorithms to provide objective data on the behaviour and symptoms of the patients in their specific VR states. VR is also being used in the medical field, particularly in radiology, preoperative planning, and image-guided surgery, as well as in rehabilitation remedies such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Nevertheless, the use of VR in these fields is still in its infancy.[1,2]

Keywords: Virtual Reality, Technology, Algorithm, Physiotherapy.