Metaverse in Mental Health: The Beginning of a Long History.

Giuseppe Riva, Andrea Gaggioli, Antonio Cerasa, Giovanni Pioggia

Journal: Current psychiatry reports 2024;26(6):294-303

PMID: 38602624

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Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We review the first pilot studies applying metaverse-related technologies in psychiatric patients and discuss the rationale for using this complex federation of technologies to treat mental diseases. Concerning previous virtual-reality applications in medical care, metaverse technologies provide the unique opportunity to define, control, and shape virtual scenarios shared by multi-users to exploit the "synchronized brains" potential exacerbated by social interactions.

RECENT FINDINGS

The application of an avatar-based sexual therapy program conducted on a metaverse platform has been demonstrated to be more effective concerning traditional sexual coaching for treating female orgasm disorders. Again, a metaverse-based social skills training program has been tested on children with autism spectrum disorders, demonstrating a significant impact on social interaction abilities. Metaverse-related technologies could enable us to develop new reliable approaches for treating diseases where behavioral symptoms can be addressed using socio-attentive tasks and social-interaction strategies.

Address: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, IRIB-CNR, 98164, Messina, Italy. [email protected].; S. Anna Institute, 88900, Crotone, Italy. [email protected].; Pharmacotechnology Documentation and Transfer Unit, Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health Science and Nutrition, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata, Italy. [email protected].; Research Center in Communication Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.; Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, IRIB-CNR, 98164, Messina, Italy.; Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. [email protected].; Humane Technology Lab, Catholic University of Milan, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123, Milan, Italy. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01501-8