Hi-tech help at hand for phobia sufferers

People with phobias could be helped by the arrival of commercially available virtual reality systems, a study has found.

Using the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift VR systems, researchers from the University of Melbourne have proved that VR could provide cheap and accessible mental health care, such as dealing with fears of public speaking, heights and spiders.

Rudimentary VR systems, which cost thousands of dollars, have been used by medical professionals to treat patients with a fear of flying for decades, but the new systems, which are cheaper and more advanced, could expand the range of treatment.