The scope of metaverse in enhancing telepsychiatry training and digital literacy among psychiatrists

Abstract

Introduction: The uptake of telemedicine in healthcare continues to gain popularity and widespread acceptance, particularly in the field of psychiatry. In the wake of robust evidence showing that telepsychiatry practices can improve health outcomes and increases patient satisfaction, policymakers, payers, and providers are increasingly considering ways to incorporate them. The effectiveness of telepsychiatry to provide reliable diagnosis and accurate assessment of cognitive, depressive, anxiety, and psychotic disorders1–5 has been proven. It has also been shown that treatment effectiveness and adherence as well as patients’ satisfaction were similar with video conferencing and in-person follow up.6 In the future, the metaverse may exist parallel to “conventional reality” as a confluence of virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and augmented reality (AR).7 The metaverse refers to a three-dimensional virtual environment where avatars can engage in social and collaborative activities.8 It is a vastly expandable, persistent network of linked virtual worlds which unifies the physical and digital worlds, allowing people to engage in a setting supported by artificial intelligence (AI), MR and extended reality, VR, and AR—all of which are enhanced by practically limitless data.