Tool In Psychotherapy Research Articles

The Influence of Task and Group Disparities Over Users’ Attitudes Toward Using Large Language Models for Psychotherapy

The population suffering from mental health disorders has kept increasing in recent years. With the advancements in large language models (LLMs) in diverse fields, LLM-based psychotherapy has also attracted increasingly more attention. However, the factors influencing users’ attitudes to LLM-based psychotherapy have rarely been explored. As the first attempt, this paper investigated the influence of task and group disparities on user attitudes toward LLM-based psychotherapy tools. Utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Automation Acceptance Model (AAM), based on an online survey, we collected and analyzed responses from 222 LLM-based psychotherapy users in mainland China. The results revealed that group disparity (i.e., mental health conditions) can influence users’ attitudes toward LLM tools. Further, one of the typical task disparities, that is, the privacy concern, was not found to have a significant effect on trust and usage intention. These findings can guide the design of future LLM-based psychotherapy services.

Virtuell virkelighet, virkelig mestring: Virtual Reality som verktøy i behandling av psykoselidelser

Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as an innovative tool in psychotherapy. In this article, we review the evidence base for the use of VR in therapy, focusing on the treatment of psychotic disorders. We present a fictional case study based on real-life patient pathways from several psychosis treatment units at Oslo University Hospital, showing how VR can be used to address anxiety and avoidance behaviours in patients with psychotic disorders. Furthermore, we introduce RecoVRy, a novel Norwegian intervention combining VR and artificial intelligence (AI) to help individuals with psychotic disorders manage everyday anxiety. Although integrating VR and AI holds considerable potential, we also discuss challenges related to privacy and ethical considerations. We conclude that although VR therapy probably does not represent a universal solution, the technology constitutes a valuable supplement that can enrich therapeutic practices and potentially contribute to significant health and socioeconomic savings. Finally, we emphasise the need for further research to fully realise this potential. Keywords: Virtual reality, VR, virtual reality exposure therapy, VRET, artificial intelligence, AI, psychosis, schizophrenia

Virtual reality exposure effect in acrophobia: psychological and physiological evidence from a single experimental session

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has gained attention from researchers in diverse fields, particularly in therapy of phobias. Currently, virtual reality exposure therapy therapy (VRET) is considered a promising cognitive-behavioral therapy technique. However, specific psychological and physiological responses of VR users to virtual exposure in such a context are still only vaguely explored. In this experimental study, we mapped VR exposure in a height environment in people with a moderate fear of heights–acrophobia. Thirty-six participants were divided into experimental and control groups–with and without psychological guidance during exposure. Participants' subjective level of anxiety was examined, and objective physiological response was captured via heart rate variability (HRV) measurement. Psychological assessments recorded an anticipated rise in participant anxiety following exposure to height; nevertheless, no distinctions were observed in self-reported anxiety concerning psychological guidance. Notably, objective physiological measures revealed that VR exposure prompts physiological responses akin to real-world scenarios. Moreover, based on the analysis of heart rate variability, participants who received psychological guidance were identified as better at compensating for anxiety compared to those without such support. These findings support VRET as a promising tool for psychotherapy and advocate for psychological guidance as beneficial in reducing anxiety and managing stress during exposure. The results may help improve our understanding of anxiety during exposure to phobic stimuli.

Live Action Role Playing (Larp) in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy: A Case Study

Role-play is an established tool in psychotherapy. Recent literature has indicated the similarities between live action role-playing (larp) and psychotherapy. In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is one of the most widespread therapeutic approaches, Role-play is a tool for developing desired target behavior (Fliegel 2020). This also applies to so-called skills groups in CBT. One form of these skills groups is the Gruppentraining sozialer Kompetenzen (Hinsch et al. 2015). Some literature has highlighted the similarities between role-playing methods used in CBT-oriented skills groups and larp (Aschenbrenner 2013, Balzer 2008). A deficit in social skills is associated with a variety of mental disorders (Segrin 2001). The use of a CBT-oriented larp may therefore be helpful in the treatment of several mental disorders. A standardised form of CBT-oriented larp in the sense of a clinical manual does not yet exist. There is also no empirical evaluation with questionnaires of such a therapeutic larp yet. This article presents the implementation and empirical evaluation of a standardised CBT-oriented larp. This clinical case study was conducted with 6 patients with mental disorders.Participants were aged 30 years or younger and all had at least one affective disorder. Established clinical screening questionnaires were used for assessment. Data were collected in a pre-post follow-up design. The study shows that this CBT-oriented larp is feasible with people with mental illness. Qualitative data show good goal attainment and positive experiences among participants. Short-term positive developments were also found in the screenings. However, an empirical statement about the effectiveness of the larp is not yet possible; in the long term, the screenings even show negative trends. Participants were aged 30 years or younger and all had at least one affective disorder. Established clinical screening questionnaires were used for assessment. Data were collected in a pre-post follow-up design. The study showed that a CBT-oriented larp has positive effects on mental health, especially in the short term, and can be an effective component of conventional behavioral therapy in the long term.

Experiences using an online therapist-guided psychotherapy platform (OPTT) in correctional workers with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Correctional workers (CWs) are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic events in the workplace, leading to an increased prevalence of mental health concerns. Online psychotherapy can address many of the barriers CWs face when seeking adequate mental health care. Despite their benefits, CWs' experience using digital mental health interventions is relatively unknown. This information could be valuable in developing enhanced care delivery to improve recruitment, retention, satisfaction, and treatment outcomes. This study investigated the experiences of a sample of CWs enrolled in a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of the Online Psychotherapy Tool (OPTT) in this population. Participants were surveyed and interviewed to capture their opinions and feedback on the program. Survey analysis was conducted through Qualtrics statistical analysis software. The interview transcripts and open-ended survey questions were analyzed using thematic analysis methods in NVivo. Participants (n=14) were cis-gender, predominantly white, with an average age of 38 years. While most respondents preferred in-person therapy, they also reported the benefits of the online psychotherapy program. Specifically, they expressed positive perceptions of the platform, the quality and interaction of their care provider, and the homework assignments and skills learned. Lack of motivation to complete weekly homework assignments was a frequently cited challenge. Unhelpful aspects of the therapy noted issues with the online format and frustration with certain program elements. Participants expressed a positive outlook on the program, the platform, and treatment outcomes. A preference for in-person therapy was still indicated, demonstrating the need to focus on engagement in digital mental health interventions. In addition, the findings of this study shed light on the factors that can influence help-seeking in this population, including stigma in the work environment, demanding work schedules, workplace perceptions, and previous experiences accessing mental health services.

Poetry and Psychotherapy: the Case for Fernando Pessoa as a Therapist. Poetry as a Tool in Psychotherapy

Nossrat Peseschkian incorporated the use of stories as a key element of Positive Psychotherapy (Peseschkian 2016). Poetry has also been proposed as a powerful tool in psychotherapy and defined as “the use of language, symbol and story in therapeutic, educational and community-building capacities.” (Mazza 2016). Among great poets Fernando Pessoa is relatively unknown due to his writing in Portuguese and to the complexity of his multiple styles, personas and perspectives. Yet, this very complexity makes his poetry, alongside his unique prose, powerful tools to be used in psychotherapy. Finally, his poems are easily accessible in both Portuguese and English today. This article starts with a brief biographical introduction to Pessoa, followed by examples of his work under different voices that can be used by mental health professionals in supporting persons in the process of healing through psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy, artificial intelligence and adolescents: ethical aspects.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly advanced in various domains, including its application in psychotherapy. AI-powered psychotherapy tools present promising solutions for increasing accessibility to mental health care. However, the integration of AI in psychotherapy raises significant ethical concerns that require thorough consideration and regulation to ensure ethical practice, patient safety, and data privacy. This article discusses the ethical considerations surrounding the utilization of AI in psychotherapy, emphasizing the need for responsible implementation, patient privacy, and the human-AI interaction. The challenge raised by the use of artificial intelligence requires a comprehensive approach. Schools, in particular, are crucial in providing both knowledge and ethical guidance, helping young individuals decipher the complexities of online content. Additionally, parental support is essential, requiring the provision of time, fostering relationships, encouraging dialogue, and creating a safe environment to share experiences amidst the intricacies of adolescence. Reimagining social and healthcare services tailored for adolescents is equally crucial, taking into account recent societal changes. The integration of AI in psychotherapy has vast potential to transform mental healthcare. However, ensuring its accuracy and effectiveness demands a proactive approach to address associated ethical considerations. By adopting responsible practices, preserving patient autonomy, and continually refining AI systems, the field can leverage the benefits of AI in psychotherapy while maintaining high ethical standards.

Zero-shot personalization of speech foundation models for depressed mood monitoring

The monitoring of depressed mood plays an important role as a diagnostic tool in psychotherapy. An automated analysis of speech can provide a non-invasive measurement of a patient's affective state. While speech has been shown to be a useful biomarker for depression, existing approaches mostly build population-level models that aim to predict each individual's diagnosis as a (mostly) static property. Because of inter-individual differences in symptomatology and mood regulation behaviors, these approaches are ill-suited to detect smaller temporal variations in depressed mood. We address this issue by introducing a zero-shot personalization of large speech foundation models. Compared with other personalization strategies, our work does not require labeled speech samples for enrollment. Instead, the approach makes use of adapters conditioned on subject-specific metadata. On a longitudinal dataset, we show that the method improves performance compared with a set of suitable baselines. Finally, applying our personalization strategy improves individual-level fairness.

The Relationship Between Literature And Psychology: An Overview

This research paper delves into the multifaceted relationship between literature and psychology, offering a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between these two seemingly disparate disciplines. Literature, as a creative expression of the human mind, often serves as a profound mirror of psychological phenomena, illuminating the intricacies of human emotions, cognition, and behavior. Conversely, psychology provides valuable insights into the human psyche, enhancing our understanding of the characters and narratives woven into literary works. Through an interdisciplinary lens, this paper explores how literature has influenced the development of psychological theories and therapeutic practices, from Freud's psychoanalysis to the utilization of literature as a therapeutic tool in psychotherapy. Moreover, it investigates how psychological concepts, such as empathy and identity formation, are conveyed and examined in literary works. By illuminating this dynamic relationship, this research advances our comprehension of the profound impact literature and psychology have on each other, shaping our perceptions of the human experience.

이주민 남미 청소년들의 자아존중감, 긍정성 향상, 우울감소를 위한 무용동작치료

In this study, dance movement therapy is used to treat South American immigrant adolescents who are depressed, have problems with their self-esteem, The goal is to reduce dejection while boosting optimism and self-worth. Many South American migrant laborers enter South Korea illegally because there is no Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to dispatch manpower between the two countries, while others enter on tourist visas to work so they are in an unstable environment. Every Saturday from October 22 to April 23, the Catholic Pastoral Commission for Latin American Communities organized A total of 48 sessions were conducted in two sessions of 70 minutes each for six youth (accompanied by parents from Peru, Spain, Bolivia, and Colombia) to improve their self-esteem, reduce depression, and increase positivity. Based on the 6 categories of the Emotional Social System DMT (Ryu, 2017) study, the dance movement therapy program for migrant youth from South America to improve their self-esteem, reduce depression, and increase positivity. The program applied the following 6 categories were used: Kinesthetic Perception DMT, Grounding DMT, Interaction DMT, Synchronization of rhythm and kinetic connection DMT, Cognition Behavioural Action DMT, and Self-System Activation DMT. As a result, there was a meaningful positive improvement in self-esteem, positivity, and depression when the pre- and post-test results were compared. Dance movement therapy to improve self-esteem, reduce depression, and increase positivity for South American immigrant adolescents used movement as a psychotherapy tool to help them better understand themselves and unleash their inner spontaneity and creativity, ultimately helping to establish a confused identity, improve self-esteem, and lessen depression. The purpose of this study is to serve as a resource for future research on migratory youth from Latin America.

Comparison of online and in-person cognitive behavioral therapy in individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder: a non-randomized controlled trial.

The increased prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) amid the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in substantial growth in online mental health care delivery. Compared to its in-person counterpart, online cognitive behavioral therapy (e-CBT) is a time-flexible and cost-effective method of improving MDD symptoms. However, how its efficacy compares to in-person CBT is yet to be explored. Therefore, the current study compared the efficacy of a therapist-supported, electronically delivered e-CBT program to in-person therapy in individuals diagnosed with MDD. Participants (n = 108) diagnosed with MDD selected either a 12 week in-person CBT or an asynchronous therapist-supported e-CBT program. E-CBT participants (n = 55) completed weekly interactive online modules delivered through a secure cloud-based online platform (Online Psychotherapy Tool; OPTT). These modules were followed by homework in which participants received personalized feedback from a trained therapist. Participants in the in-person CBT group (n = 53) discussed sessions and homework with their therapists during one-hour weekly meetings. Program efficacy was evaluated using clinically validated symptomatology and quality of life questionnaires. Both treatments yielded significant improvements in depressive symptoms and quality of life from baseline to post-treatment. Participants who opted for in-person therapy presented significantly higher baseline symptomatology scores than the e-CBT group. However, both treatments demonstrated comparable significant improvements in depressive symptoms and quality of life from baseline to post-treatment. e-CBT seems to afford higher participant compliance as dropouts in the e-CBT group completed more sessions on average than those in the in-person CBT group. The findings support e-CBT with therapist guidance as a suitable option to treat MDD. Future studies should investigate how treatment accessibility is related to program completion rates in the e-CBT vs. in-person group. ClinicalTrials.Gov Protocol Registration and Results System (NCT04478058); clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04478058.

Efficacious Web-Based Psychotherapy to Address Depression and Anxiety Among Patients Receiving Oncological and Palliative Care: an Open-Label Randomised Controlled Trial

IntroductionOncological and palliative care patients face unique stressors which increase their risk of developing depression and anxiety. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness has established success in improving this population’s mental health. Traditional face-to-face psychotherapy is costly, has long wait lists, often lacks accessibility, and has strict scheduling, each of which can make attending psychotherapy physically, mentally, and financially out of reach for oncological and palliative patients. Web-based CBT (e-CBT) is a promising alternative that has shown efficacy in this and other patient populations.ObjectivesTo quantify the efficacy of online CBT and mindfulness therapy in oncological and palliative patients experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms.MethodsParticipants with depression or anxiety related to their diagnosis were recruited from care settings in Kingston, Ontario, and randomly assigned to 8 weekly e-CBT/mindfulness modules (N= 25) or treatment as usual (TAU; N=24). Modules consisted of CBT concepts, problem-solving, mindfulness, homework, and personalised feedback from their therapist through a secure platform (Online Psychotherapy Tool- OPTT) Participants completed PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in weeks 1, 4, and 8. (NCT04664270: REB# 6031471).ResultsSignificant decreases in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores within individuals support the hypothesis of efficacy. At this time, 10 e-CBT/mindfulness and 12 TAU have completed the study. Decreases in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores within e-CBT group support the hypothesis of efficacy. Specifically, PHQ-9 scores decreased over the 3 repeated measures (ANOVA, 2 groups, 3 repeated measures and the decrease in GAD-7 scores was similarly large)ConclusionsAs hypothesized, the results suggest that e-CBT/mindfulness therapy is an affordable, accessible, and efficacious mental health treatment for this population. The virtual, asynchronous delivery format is particularly appropriate given the unique barriers.Disclosure of InterestN. Alavi Shareolder of: OPTT inc, Grant / Research support from: department psychiatry Queen’s University, M. Omrani Shareolder of: OPTT inc, A. Shirazi: None Declared, G. Layzell: None Declared, J. Eadie: None Declared, J. Jagayat: None Declared, C. Stephenson: None Declared, D. Kain: None Declared, C. Soares: None Declared, M. Yang: None Declared

Investigating the effectiveness of incorporating a stepped care approach into electronically delivered CBT for depression

IntroductionDepression is a leading cause of disability, annually affecting up to 300 million people worldwide, yet fewer than one third of patients receive care. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for depression, but there are barriers to access therapy. Electronic CBT (e-CBT) can address these barriers, but the digital format may reduce personalization and patient compliance. A balanced, hybrid model (i.e., combination of e-CBT & supervised care) could make therapy scalable and effective through a stepped-care model: a care model that begins treatment with the least resource intensive, yet effective, method while slowly ‘stepping up’ to intensive care based on patients’ needs.Objectives-To examine the efficacy of a stepped-care e-CBT model for depression through reduction in depressive symptoms.-To develop a decision-making process that can effectively allocate the appropriate level of care for each patient.MethodsThis is a single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants were randomized to either the e-CBT group (n = 53) or the e-CBT with stepped care group (n = 26). Both groups received a 12/13-weeks e-CBT program tailored to depression. The e-CBT program was provided through a secure online mental health clinic called the Online Psychotherapy Tool (OPTT). Participants read through the sessions and completed assignments related to each session. Each participant was designated a care provider who was a trained research assistant. Participants in the experimental group received extra interventions based on their standard questionnaire scores, and textual data.Results Figure 1: The average PHQ-9 (A), QLESQ (B), and QIDS (C) scores pre-, mid-, and post- treatment for the e-CBT only (n = 53) and stepped care groups (n = 26).* Depressive symptoms: PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) & QIDS (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology)* Quality of Life Measure: QLESQ (Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire – Short Form)Image:ConclusionsStepped care model can be reliable and effective method of delivering targeted care to future patients. Using this approach, the amount of care each patient receives is tailored to their needs, allowing for more efficient usage of scarce resources. This would also lower the general cost of care for each patient. By understanding the therapeutic needs of each patient, we can use these results to develop objective interventions and efficient algorithms to triage individuals. This technique could scale up care capacity without sacrificing the quality of care for each patient.Disclosure of InterestN. Alavi Shareolder of: OPTT inc, M. Omrani Shareolder of: OPTT inc, J. Jagayat: None Declared, A. Shirazi: None Declared, A. Kumar: None Declared, A. Pannu: None Declared, Y. Shao: None Declared

How immersive virtual reality can become a key tool to advance research and psychotherapy of eating and weight disorders.

Immersive virtual reality technology (VR) still waits for its wide dissemination in research and psychotherapy of eating and weight disorders. Given the comparably high efforts in producing a VR setup, we outline that the technology's breakthrough needs tailored exploitation of specific features of VR and user-centered design of setups. In this paper, we introduce VR hardware and review the specific properties of immersive VR versus real-world setups providing examples how they improved existing setups. We then summarize current approaches to make VR a tool for psychotherapy of eating and weight disorders and introduce user-centered design of VR environments as a solution to support their further development. Overall, we argue that exploitation of the specific properties of VR can substantially improve existing approaches for research and therapy of eating and weight disorders. To produce more than pilot setups, iterative development of VR setups within a user-centered design approach is needed.

A Virtual Reality Game as a Tool for Psychotherapy With OCD Patients

The treatment of several types of obsessions/compulsions for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD) can be done using virtual environments (VE). These people experience intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety, which trigger intentional repetitive behaviors to decrease their anxiety. The advantage of using a VE to experience and challenge compulsions is that it allows the user to take the risk without taking a real risk as in digital games. This article presents a virtual reality serious game for OCD therapy, which will serve as a tool to expose the patients to stimuli that can trigger OCD symptoms, for example, tidying, cleaning, and checking. The game is more oriented for adolescents and younger adults because OCD usually starts to affect teenagers, accompanying them throughout adulthood, generating a very accentuated degree of disability in all areas of their lives. Despite Covid-19, a small group of specialists did a preliminary evaluation of the game, which has provided promising results on the feasibility of VR interventions for OCD in clinical practice.

2.10 Brief Psychotherapy to Address Post–COVID-19 Anxiety Crises in South Bronx: A Pilot Study

In low socioeconomic (SE) areas, with disproportionate resources for health care, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the mental health challenges among children and adolescents. The AACAP and the AAP have jointly declared the National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health, highlighting the need for collaborative work to reduce the risk of suicide, depression, trauma, loneliness, and anxiety among youth. A quality improvement study was designed to teach basic psychotherapy tools by psychiatry, pediatric, and family medicine residents/fellows and social workers, in an attempt to decrease utilization of higher level of care.

Modalities of the psychedelic experience: Microclimates of set and setting in hallucinogen research and culture.

Mid-20th-century American research on psychedelics evinced a stunning diversity of interpretations of hallucinogenic effects. While some researchers viewed psychedelics as invaluable tools for psychotherapy, others persisted in treating them as psychosis-inducing agents. As some groups considered psychedelics as catalysts for artistic creativity, others investigated their potential use as psychochemical weapons in the battlefield, or conversely as tools for spiritual ecstasy and revelation. This bewildering array of perceptions regarding the nature of hallucinogenic effects led to stark contrasts in the contexts (set and setting) of psychedelic research and experimentation, leading to wildly divergent outcomes and reports on the effects of the drugs, and strident disagreements between the actors in the field. Examining this remarkable historical moment of epistemological unclarity regarding psychedelics and their effects, this article describes how distinct scientific and cultural trends and moments of mid-20th-century America contributed to the creation of diverse microclimates of set and setting that reproduced investigator beliefs and attitudes and brought about a beguiling Pygmalion effect that left researchers befuddled and perplexed. I propose the concept of psychedelic modality to describe how distinct sociocultural microclimates lead to thematic aggregates in which distinct types of expectations, intentions as well as physical, social, and cultural environments all tend to cluster, producing characteristic outcomes and results. By exploring the historical context and consequences of the emergence of seven psychedelic modalities (psychotomimetic, military, psychotherapeutic, spiritual, artistic-creative, tech-innovative, and political) in mid-20th-century America, this article outlines the varieties of psychedelic experiences in their relationship with culture at large, and subcultures in particular.

Feasibility, Appropriateness, and Willingness to Use Virtual Reality as an Adjunct to Counseling among Addictions Counselors

Introduction Research suggests that virtual reality (VR) experiences can be helpful as adjunctive tools in psychotherapy for some mental health conditions. VR is a computer-generated experience that produces a feeling of being immersed in a different environment. VR experiences could be useful in the treatment of substance use disorders, and several are currently being tested. However, few psychotherapists report using VR experiences in their practices, even when doing so is well-supported. Understanding key barriers and concerns about using VR among drug/alcohol counselors is important to ultimately encouraging adoption. Methods Licensed counselors (N = 101) who provide treatment to clients with substance use disorders were recruited via email Listservs, professional organizations, and social media. Participants viewed a 15-minute educational video about VR and then completed a survey of their views about using it with their clients. Results Most clinicians (82%) believed they would be likely to use a VR experience in drug/alcohol counseling, and 81% believed it would be appropriate for most of their clients. A minority (19%) noted important concerns, including that their clients may be skeptical of it (15%), cost (14%), and space (10%). Those who had cost and space concerns were less likely to report high use intentions (OR = 0.29 and OR = 031, both p < .05, respectively). Conclusions Findings suggest that addictions counselors are eager to use VR, but key barriers should be addressed. VR developers should incorporate features to encourage trust among users, design experiences for small spaces, and explore ways of supporting the purchase of VR systems for counselors.

SandplayAR: Evaluation of psychometric game for people with generalized anxiety disorder

In the context of the rapid development of the Internet, there has been a paradigm shift in psychotherapy practice. The current study develops an online psychometric game: SandplayAR. The experiment primarily evaluates the differences in the effects of SandplayAR and traditional sandplay on the young with generalized anxiety disorder and examines the operational usability of SandplayAR. A total of 20 participants with mild anxiety and above were screened, who were randomly and equally allocated to experimental and control groups for the experiment. Sandplay Image Healing Experience Questionnaire scores as the primary judgment basis, pre/post skin conductance levels and systolic blood pressure levels are collected as additional indexes. The results revealed that the participants using SandplayAR exhibited better performance in both the unconscious emergence and the conscious perception activation, and the product met usability needs. The skin conductance data further demonstrated that AR could achieve more effective ecological intervention through sensory stimulation. This study provides a reference for innovative design in online psychometric tools, and in future research, SandplayAR has the potential to develop into a complete psychotherapy tool.

Update on Cyber Health Psychology: Virtual Reality and Mobile Health Tools in Psychotherapy, Clinical Rehabilitation, and Addiction Treatment.

(1) Background: we investigated and analyzed the most recent implementations of technology in the fields of psychotherapy, clinical rehabilitation, and addiction treatment. (2) Methods: from December 2021 to January 2022, we conducted a review aimed at identifying the recent implementations of technology in cyber health psychology, with particular reference to Virtual Reality in psychotherapy, mHealth tools in clinical rehabilitation, and smartphone applications in the treatment of addiction to substances of abuse, searching for relevant studies in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Health & Medical Collection, and APA PsycArticles. (3) Results: the tools analyzed are in constant development and are increasingly used, with good results, and further technological progress could lead to even better treatment outcomes; as far as mHealth tools and smartphone applications are concerned, anti-smoking Apps are the most widespread, followed by those for the treatment of alcohol use disorder, and there is no presence of Apps for the treatment of heroin, cocaine, or crack addiction. (4) Conclusions: the results of the review indicate that these technological tools are increasingly used and are, in principle, effective and have numerous advantages, including low cost and versatility.