Clinical Virtual Reality Treatments: A Brief Review of the Future (HS - RIZZO - 057605)

Course overview

Since the mid-1990s, significant scientific literature has evolved regarding the outcomes from the use of what we now refer to as Clinical Virtual Reality (VR). This use of VR simulation technology has produced encouraging results when applied to address cognitive, psychological, motor, and functional impairments across a wide range of clinical health conditions. This recording will provide a brief description of the various forms of VR technology and describe the trajectory of Clinical VR over the last 25 years addressing health and clinical treatment of anxiety disorders, PTSD, pain management, autism, and in the assessment/rehabilitation of stroke, brain injury, and other neurologically-based conditions. While there is still much research needed to advance the science in this area, I will make the case that Clinical VR applications will soon become indispensable tools in the toolbox of healthcare researchers and practitioners and will only grow in relevance and popularity in the near future.