Applications and outcomes of virtual reality in inpatient psychiatry: A systematic review.

TL;DR

A systematic review of 37 studies examining VR use in inpatient psychiatry found it to be feasible, acceptable, and safe, with most consistent improvements in clinical symptoms such as anxiety. High-quality trials and better implementation reporting are needed to advance clinical use.

Key findings

• VR used primarily for cognitive-behavioral therapy/exposure therapy (35%) and assessment (24%) in inpatient psychiatric settings
• Implementation facilitators include adequate staff training and supervision; barriers include technical difficulties and limited resources
• Most consistent clinical improvements observed in anxiety and related symptoms rather than psychosocial, cognitive, or physiological outcomes
• 37 studies (N=1,004) showed VR is feasible and safe for inpatients and clinicians, though evidence quality remains preliminary

Why this matters at the bedside

Inpatient psychiatric units could potentially incorporate VR-based therapeutic and assessment tools, though current evidence is limited and implementation requires attention to training, technical support, and resource allocation. The approach appears safe but requires further validation before widespread clinical adoption.