Virtual Reality (VR) can elicit paranoid thoughts in both patients and healthy individuals. The experiences in VR are correlated to real life symptoms and validate VR as a way of researching paranoia and psychosis. The characteristic neurocognitive problems in psychotic patients also characterize performance in VR environment. Social skill deficiencies are reflected in VR and can be addressed with training and exercises. Although research has just started in recent years, there is an expanding database on interventions for delusions, hallucinations, neurocognition, social cognition, and social skills with promising results.
VR is safe and valid and an array of assessment and treatment opportunities is emerging. The lecture will address and review the VR studies in psychosis and tentatively set a research agenda for the years to come.