Exploring the Role of Virtual Reality and Metaverse in Treating Mental Health: Operating Models and Challenges in Adoption

The advent of virtual reality (VR) has introduced new avenues for treating mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. These conditions have traditionally been managed with pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments. However, these treatments often present issues such as medicinal side effects, accessibility barriers like high cost, and geographical constraints. This study explores the potential of VR and metaverse to offer more accessible and engaging treatment alternatives. By analyzing the service models of XRHealth, Innerworld, and PsyTechVR, we aim to critically evaluate the efficacy of these technologies in mental health treatments and analyze associated challenges including accessibility, side effects, privacy, and security concerns. The findings aim to contribute to the ongoing discussion on digital health innovations and prescription digital therapy by providing a comprehensive analysis of cutting-edge virtual reality and metaverse technologies in overcoming traditional treatment barriers in treating mental health.