We had a fantastic online session with 40+ medical professionals on New Trends in VR Mental Health & Practical Apps hosted by Peter Oykhman with thought-leaders in VR mental health, featuring Dr Gwylim Roddick (CBT of Central & South Florida is a psychotherapy clinic), Dr. Lynn Panatonni (Turnpaugh Health), and PsyTechVR's co-founder Daniil Andreev . We explored cutting-edge developments in VR for mental health, discussing the latest research, practical applications, and future implications for therapy, wellness, and beyond. Learn more VR’s transformative potential for mental health, gain insights into innovative solutions at our Best in Medical, XR, AI (VRARA Healthcare Summit 2024) https://www.linkedin.com/events/7243305524149014528/comments
The meeting focused on the intersection of mental health and VR, highlighting its therapeutic applications. Peter Oykhman emphasized the critical role of mental health in healthcare and the potential of AI to enhance mental health solutions, while also addressing concerns about AI's effectiveness and safety. Dr. Lynn Panattoni discussed integrative approaches to treating anxiety and mood disorders, and Dr. Gwilym Roddick introduced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques for anxiety and PTSD. The use of SciTechVR in therapy was highlighted, showcasing its benefits for patients with anxiety and trauma, and the customization of VR experiences for phobia treatment was discussed. The integration of AI in creating personalized VR scenarios was noted, along with advancements in technology, including the introduction of lifelike avatars and augmented reality applications. Ethical considerations regarding AI representation and the role of technology in clinical observations were also addressed. The meeting concluded with discussions on product development insights and the value of networking within professional organizations.
Topics & Highlights
1. Mental Health and Virtual Reality
Peter Oykhman highlights the importance of mental health in today's world, indicating that it is a significant part of healthcare. He also mentions that there is a need for more presentations on this topic, particularly in relation to virtual reality.
There are concerns regarding the use of AI in mental health, with some individuals being apprehensive about its effectiveness and safety. Peter Oykhman notes that Danielle will address these concerns during the presentation.
2. Use of Virtual Reality in Therapy
designed for mental health and wellness, incorporating modalities like EMDR and CBT, and addressing issues such as fears, phobias, and PTSD exposure therapy.
most of her patients are dealing with anxiety disorders or trauma, and she has started offering SciTech VR to everyone, observing positive responses within three sessions.
3. Virtual Reality Therapy for Phobias
clients who have never flown but have driven their families around the country, highlighting the extent of avoidance behaviors related to phobias.
expressed that some clients perceive CBT therapists as sadists due to the discomfort involved in confronting their fears, indicating a potential concern about client perceptions of therapy.
4. AI in Virtual Reality
Peter expresses concerns about the unpredictability of AI, especially in emotional support contexts, emphasizing the potential for harm if AI provides incorrect recommendations.
one company from has developed about 500 scenarios for VR, while another has around 200 scenarios, indicating the competitive landscape in VR content creation.
development of an AI that can customize exposure scenarios within 30 seconds, indicating a significant advancement in VR therapy applications.
5. AI in Therapeutic Settings
The AI technology discussed allows therapists to create personalized VR exposures in a matter of seconds, enhancing the therapeutic experience for clients with specific fears, such as phobias of dogs.
The next versions are planned to be released within the year, which will include options for therapists to create gradual exposures tailored to individual client needs.
6. Advancements in AI and VR Technology for Clinical Use
The time to create a new scenario has decreased from six months to just a couple of weeks, and with AI, it can now be done in 30 seconds.
The team is planning to release an update that includes a new 'Bully Avatar' backed by ChatGPT, which will allow for live conversations, expected in late November.
7. Introduction of Metahumans in VR Therapy
The team plans to start enabling the metahumans feature for all free trial users and subscribers beginning in December, enhancing the VR therapy experience with lifelike avatars.
The introduction of metahumans is set to begin in December, marking a significant development in the VR therapy field.
The initial idea was to use AI to create safe places for clients, allowing them to define their personal safe environments, which is a departure from predefined scenarios used by other systems.
8. Integration of Mindfulness in Patient Engagement
emphasizes that integrating mindfulness activities into therapy can significantly improve patient engagement and emotional processing, which is crucial for skill retention outside of sessions.
9. Augmented Reality in Therapy
Meta Quest 3 headset, priced at $299, which features advanced cameras for augmented reality, set to release mixed reality content in early 2025.
The team is planning to develop mixed reality content for various phobias and social anxieties, with a focus on practical applications in therapy settings, expected to be available in early 2025.
10. Addressing Social Anxieties Post-COVID
social anxieties have become increasingly common post-COVID, highlighting the need for effective training solutions.
The discussion includes exploring the use of AI to create personalized scenarios for training in public speaking and other social situations, indicating a proactive approach to addressing these anxieties.
11. Customization in PsyTechVR
emphasized that users like it allows for full customization in experiences, particularly in mindfulness and exposure scenarios.
12. Ethical Considerations in AI Representation
concerns about the ethical implications of making AI avatars more lifelike, stressing the importance of ensuring users understand these are not real people.
clarified that the responsibility lies with clinicians to decide how realistic they want their AI tools to be.
13. Use of Technology in Clinical Observations
The speakers discussed the importance of technology as an additional tool for doctors, highlighting its potential to enhance clinical observations without replacing the human element in healthcare.
