Abstract:
Cybertherapy is a field that is growing rapidly due today's technology and information boom. Virtual reality (VR) has been used successfully in a variety of healthcare issues, including treatment of phobias, eating disorders and rehabilitation. This article presents a review of the literature on how VR affects the coping of patients with distress, pain and anxiety associated with chemotherapy and other painful or unpleasant medical procedures. Researches conducted on these technological forms of intervention and support show promising results and suggestions for further studies. Future directions for research include improvements of objective measures of efficacy such as fMRI and physiological monitoring devices. Investigations are carried out to determine if VR can be used to treat a broader scope of disorders.
