Virtuell verklighet i analog praktik: En studie av professionella VR-utövares uppfattning om VR-terapi

Sammanfattning: An increasing number of people are suffering from mental illness. The lack of viable treatment options has left many without a proper opportunity to get help, henceforth there is a need for new ways for therapists to give treatment. This study aims to utilize the experience and expertise of professionals who use VR technology to provide information and ideas on how VR and specifically VR therapy can be used as a viable option for the treatment of phobias and other mental and physical ailments. Online therapy is also becoming an increasingly important factor in the treatment of mental illness in 2020, this study also aims to assess opinionated articles regarding the subject of online therapy. Also important are the future prospects VR therapy and online therapy has to become resources for new or improved types of treatment. To achieve this we conducted a qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews. We used a convenience sample which allowed us to reach three professionals and a goal-directed selection sample with which we found five articles all with different experiences and backgrounds in treatment in a therapeutic setting with virtual reality and online therapy. We conclude that VR therapy can be a viable option for treatments and that it offers a good balance between flexibility and customizability as a complement to already established treatment methods. VR is also viewed positively across all interviews and article materials. We also conclude that online therapy has the potential to be developed further, as results indicate promise in remote treatment, albeit with some drawbacks still.