Virtual Reality Applications for Social Anxiety Treatment: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Social anxiety is a psychological disorder distinguished by a profound apprehension of social environments, leading to irrational anxiety among individuals. This excessive fear of social situations affects a considerable number of young people worldwide. This comprehensive literature analysis investigates the remedy of social anxiety with help of virtual reality (VR) in. It explores the extent and limitations of gamifying treatment solutions for social anxiety. This approach enables individuals to engage in social exposure therapy conveniently. It assists in enhancing their home-based exercise routine and reducing the likelihood of relapses. A detailed assessment of the frequency of social anxiety disorder, common therapeutic approaches, and the limitations associated with these conventional treatments is provided. Subsequently, the prospective applications of VR-based exposure therapy to improve social competencies among individuals suffering from social anxiety are detailed. The review places particular emphasis on the Indian demographic. This focus aims to address the distinctive challenges and prospects within this population due to the extensive cultural diversity.