Mixed Reality for a collective and adaptive mental health metaverse

Mixed Reality for a collective and adaptive mental health metaverse

05 January 2024 | Samuel Navas-Medrano*, Jose L. Soler-Dominguez and Patricia Pons
This research paper explores the transformative potential of Mixed Reality (MR) technology in enhancing mental health therapies within the metaverse. The metaverse, a multiuser, adaptive, three-dimensional digital space, paired with the interactive and immersive benefits of MR, offers a paradigm shift in mental health support. Unlike traditional platforms, MR allows therapy to take place in familiar surroundings while incorporating social collaboration and interactions. The metaverse environment fosters personalization and deeper user engagement, offering tailored approaches to computerized therapy. Beyond its immersive capabilities, MR can provide real-time, smart adaptations to users' psycho-physiological states, targeting unique patient needs across a broad spectrum of therapeutic techniques. It also opens avenues for continuous emotional support in everyday life situations. The paper discusses the benefits and potentials of integrating MR within a mental health metaverse, highlighting how this innovative approach could significantly complement traditional therapeutic methods. It addresses the challenges of group therapy, such as geographical limitations, stigma, and interpersonal challenges, and proposes that MR can overcome these barriers by providing a more inclusive and effective therapeutic environment. The metaverse, with its immersive capabilities, can create a collective and adaptive space for mental health support, fostering social interactions, commerce, entertainment, and educational experiences. The paper also reviews the literature on XR technologies for mental health, focusing on emotional regulation strategies and the role of MR in a social metaverse. It emphasizes the importance of adaptive and customizable experiences, modular and collaborative metaverse design, and the potential of haptics, smell, and seamless biofeedback to enhance the user experience. The authors conclude that the metaverse has the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare, breaking down geographical barriers, reducing stigma, and providing accessible and engaging interventions.This research paper explores the transformative potential of Mixed Reality (MR) technology in enhancing mental health therapies within the metaverse. The metaverse, a multiuser, adaptive, three-dimensional digital space, paired with the interactive and immersive benefits of MR, offers a paradigm shift in mental health support. Unlike traditional platforms, MR allows therapy to take place in familiar surroundings while incorporating social collaboration and interactions. The metaverse environment fosters personalization and deeper user engagement, offering tailored approaches to computerized therapy. Beyond its immersive capabilities, MR can provide real-time, smart adaptations to users' psycho-physiological states, targeting unique patient needs across a broad spectrum of therapeutic techniques. It also opens avenues for continuous emotional support in everyday life situations. The paper discusses the benefits and potentials of integrating MR within a mental health metaverse, highlighting how this innovative approach could significantly complement traditional therapeutic methods. It addresses the challenges of group therapy, such as geographical limitations, stigma, and interpersonal challenges, and proposes that MR can overcome these barriers by providing a more inclusive and effective therapeutic environment. The metaverse, with its immersive capabilities, can create a collective and adaptive space for mental health support, fostering social interactions, commerce, entertainment, and educational experiences. The paper also reviews the literature on XR technologies for mental health, focusing on emotional regulation strategies and the role of MR in a social metaverse. It emphasizes the importance of adaptive and customizable experiences, modular and collaborative metaverse design, and the potential of haptics, smell, and seamless biofeedback to enhance the user experience. The authors conclude that the metaverse has the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare, breaking down geographical barriers, reducing stigma, and providing accessible and engaging interventions.
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