Synopsis

The “Virtual Reality for Exposure Therapy” (VRET) initiative at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS) represents a nursing innovation designed to enhance anxiety treatment. Originating from a ward-floor idea by Staff Nurse Aine Whyte—winner of the 2022 St Patricks Nursing Innovative Project Award—the concept was developed by a dedicated Nursing Quality Initiative working group in 2024.
The project introduces VRET into the anxiety disorders programme at St Patrick’s University Hospital as a cutting-edge, supplementary intervention. By utilising immersive software (XR Health), the project provides tailored, controlled, and scalable exposure environments for service users facing complex phobias and anxiety triggers. This initiative targets both inpatients and outpatients diagnosed with Agoraphobia, with or without Panic.
To evaluate efficacy, the project establishes a structured pilot programme involving 10 participating service users. A comparative analysis was conducted post-assessment on clinical outcomes against a 2022 baseline control group of 10 service users who underwent traditional exposure therapy. The outcomes proved that virtual reality was an effective treatment method and improved service user outcomes.