Two recent projects focus on the use of immersive VR for pain reduction and phobia desensitization. Severe burns are often excruciatingly painful during wound care, even with traditional morphine doses. Pain requires conscious attention and is exacerbated by anxiety. Immersive VR is exceptionally attention-grabbing. On another project, Psychologist Al Carlin and Dr. Hoffman are using virtual therapy to cure clinical-level phobias.
Fear is in the mind of the phobic.
VR can be used to help change the way phobics think so they can lead normal lives again. Severe arachnophobics are immersed into virtual Spider Worlds designed to systematically desensitize them to their fear.