A major clinical trial for mental health treatment just kicked off in the UK — and Sisterit involves virtual reality.
Organized by VR therapy outfit gameChange, the government-funded program seeks to find out if VR can help people affected by schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.
The gameChange trial began on July 1 in the UK. It will last 18 months and puts patients into VR recreations of real-world situations they might find difficult, like getting on a bus or walking down the street.
“The gameChange VR therapy is for people with conditions such as schizophrenia whose fears have caused them to withdraw to such an extent that everyday tasks – such as getting on a bus, doing the shopping, speaking to other people – are a challenge," Daniel Freeman, gameChange lead researcher, said in a press release. "It aims to help patients re-engage with the world and go into everyday situations feeling more confident, calm and in control."
The idea is that spending time in virtual versions of stressful situations could help people better cope with the real thing. More than 400 patients throughout England will take part in the trial courtesy of the UK's National Health Service.
The project won £4 million in funding from the UK National Institute for Health Research back in 2018. It's the biggest such trial for VR therapy to date, per the press release.
SEE ALSO: 'Lion King' director Jon Favreau explains how they used VR to make the movieOne trial patient, who only went by Peter, had positive things to say about it in an interview with Forbes.
“Whether it’s walking down the street or getting a bus, you can use the VR to practice being in those places to overcome the negative intrusive thoughts to build your confidence," Peter told Forbes. "So when you go back into the real world, you feel a lot better.”
While VR is often sold to consumers with fun gaming applications, its role in therapeutic endeavors might be the most fascinating thing about the technology. Researchers have used VR to try and help amputees and children with autism, for example.
The proliferation of affordable, high-quality VR headsets like the Oculus Quest means we will probably see more and more stories like this in the next few years.
FreeSync 2 Explained
In Memoriam: Evan S. Connell, 1924–2013 by Lorin Stein
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control: Modernists Go Off
A Man Pronounces the Longest Word in the World by Sadie Stein
Skywatching is lit in May, says NASA
Happy New Year! And Other News by Sadie Stein
Bookless Libraries, and Other News by Sadie Stein
William Styron in Letters, Part 4 by William Styron
Alienware M16 Gaming Laptop deal: Save $560
A Conspiracy in a Teapot by Sophie Pinkham
Q&A with tendercare founder and CEO Shauna Sweeney
Musical Notes by Sadie Stein
In Praise of Bookstore Cats by Sadie Stein
“I Always Start on 8 January” by Sadie Stein
Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum: $120 off at Amazon
Pelican Art, and Other News by Sadie Stein
Keep Me in the Loop, You Dead Mechanism by Dave Tompkins
William Styron in Letters, Part 5 by William Styron
Episode 4: The Wave of the Future
“I Always Start on 8 January” by Sadie Stein
Speed FreaksEmpathy for the DevilThe LeftoversGod Help MeEmpathy for the DevilLondon FallingAgainst VirtuosityThat’s so CravenThe Trials of Scott WarrenHeaven Help UsOnward, Christian SoldiersYour Friends Are Not HRA Most Baffling YearPoetic JusticePoetic JusticeSilicon Valley’s Sun KingsPower of AttorneyLying in StateTo the Bitter EndEmpathy for the Devil How to take advantage of Google's full system Backup and Sync tool Elon Musk is so worried about the threat of AI, he wants government to regulate it No Vogue, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik are not gender fluid just because they swap clothes Martin Landau, 'Mission Impossible,' 'North by Northwest' actor, dead at 89 This new meal kit app is like a Blue Apron for low Sorry everyone, but that shocking Amelia Earhart photo has been debunked — twice Australia wants to defy math and break into encrypted messaging apps Marvel VR game for Oculus Rift lets you become Hulk, Captain Marvel, Rocket Raccoon Jacked Jeff Bezos knows grass This 'Game of Thrones' moment was the biggest one on YouTube Apple is adding 3D lasers to the iPhone so we can all be AR zombies Beyoncé fans have earth Here's Wonder Woman just hanging with her Justice League boys Facebook building $200 standalone Oculus VR headset for 2018: report All the Disney princesses are coming back for the 'Wreck Couple seeks photographer to capture every aspect of their wedding day, including the night... 'Kingdom Hearts III' visits Disney's magical worlds in 2018 Everything we just learned about 'The Last Jedi' But seriously, how do you get trapped inside an ATM? We're frankly baffled that luxury smartphone maker Vertu is done for