VR Game Helps Smokers Quit

Yesterday was the Great American Smokeout. For those having trouble quitting, virtual reality games might help.

New research published in CyberPsychology and Behaviour studied the effect of specially designed VR games on smokers trying to quit. Volunteers were assigned to one of two treatment programmes based around a virtual environment. In one programme they crushed virtual balls, in the other virtual cigarettes. Both groups were also given minimal psychosocial support.

The researchers concluded:

Results revealed that crushing virtual cigarettes during 4 weekly sessions led to a statistically significant reduction in nicotine addiction (assessed with the Fagerström test), abstinence rate (confirmed with exhaled carbon monoxide), and drop-out rate from the 12-week psychosocial minimal-support treatment program.

The report notes that these results might be in part because those crushing cigarettes were less likely to drop out of the programme, presumably finding it more interesting and hence motivating.

Of course this has potential applications beyond just giving up smoking – could other unwanted habits, addictions and phobias could be treated by properly designed virtual treatments?