Video Game Simulations as a Cure for Phobias

An article, Computer Games Can Treat Phobias, in the October 2003 issue of New Scientist magazine points out that advances in computer graphic chips have enabled a level of virtual reality that give video games new power. Citing a study conducted at the University of Quebec, the article noted that confronting one's fears was a common therapy for dealing with phobias. Previous research had involved elaborate and expensive customized virtual reality simulations. Apparently researchers have now discovered that off-the-shelf games such as Half Life and Unreal Tournament can be used to create virtual environments that train phobic people address their fears and potentially overcome them. For example, Half Life was used to create an environment where arachnophobes could be confronted with spiders and conditioned to minimize those fears.