Metaverse and psychiatry: A review

Abstract

Today, with the development of technology, the concept of the virtual world is gaining more and more importance. "Metaverse", which has become popular in recent years, aims to provide an environment where people can interact, do business, have fun and even live in the digital world. Metaverse, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, offers many different uses in the field of mental health. However, we do not yet have enough information about the effects of this technology on mental health. The effect of Metaverse on mental health has been the subject of many researches that it can be used in areas such as the treatment of psychological disorders, stress reduction, self-confidence, and development of social interaction skills. The biggest advantage of using Metaverse for psychiatric treatment is that the virtual world is separated from the real world. Therefore, the stress, anxiety and other emotional reactions experienced during treatment have no real-life consequences. In addition, the therapist is easier to access in the virtual world and can help patients adapt to treatment more easily. However, the use of Metaverse for psychiatric treatment also has some disadvantages. For example, this method of treatment may be an unrealistic experience for some patients and not effective enough for others. Also, this treatment modality has limited accessibility as it requires high cost equipment and technology. In particular, there has not been enough research on the relationship between the use of Metaverse in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric diseases. More research is needed on the effect of Metaverse on mental health. In particular, more studies are needed on its long-term effects and effects on different people. In this review, studies investigating the potential relationship between Metaverse technology and psychiatry and how this technology can be used in the psychiatric field are reviewed.