Initial Recommendations for Virtual Reality in Mental Health Care from the American Medical Extended Reality Association.
Mental health care has long been a leading domain for the application of clinical virtual reality (VR) technologies. The recent proliferation of affordable all-in-one VR devices has significantly increased accessibility and created new opportunities for innovative mental health therapies. As immersive technologies become more integrated into daily life, scientific evidence and clinical insights can be synthesized into actionable recommendations. The American Medical Extended Reality Association, in collaboration with the Mental Health Virtual Reality International Coalition, presents these comprehensive recommendations for the use of VR in clinical mental health care. This work summarizes the current state of the field, examines the supporting scientific literature, outlines ethical considerations and their practical applications, and offers research-based and experience-informed recommendations. Additionally, it identifies key collaborative directions to advance the responsible and effective use of VR in mental health care. These recommendations may serve as a foundational resource for clinicians, researchers, developers, and policymakers for the integration of VR in mental health practice.