Virtual Reality for the Treatment of Positive Symptoms of Psychosis: A Meta-Analysis of Trials

Abstract Purpose of Review Positive symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions, can be profoundly distressing and debilitating for those affected. Emerging evidence indicates virtual reality (VR) interventions offer a promising avenue for treatment of psychosis. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effectiveness of VR interventions on alleviating the positive symptoms of psychosis. Recent Findings Studies were identified following a systematic search of titles, abstracts, and keywords in seven databases. A total of 82 full-text articles were screened, with eight studies meeting the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A total of 786 participants were represented in the included studies. The analysis, encompassing combined positive symptoms, hallucinations, and delusions, indicates a non-significant small effect size of g = 0.10 ( p =.445) for combined symptoms, a non-significant small effect size of g =.14 ( p =.129) for hallucinations and a significant medium effect size of g =.34 ( p =.001) for delusions. Summary The findings suggest that VR interventions exhibit promise in reducing delusions compared to traditional treatments, but more research is required.