ICT&health January 1, 2026
Researchers at Texas A&M University have demonstrated that immersive virtual reality (VR) may significantly reduce anxiety related to death. In a small pilot study, a short VR experience simulating a near-death scenario led to a reported 75% reduction in death anxiety among young adults after just one 12-minute session.
Death anxiety, a fear linked to thoughts about dying, is associated with a range of mental health conditions, including depression, stress disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias. It tends to peak in early adulthood, decline in midlife and rise again later in life, and is particularly relevant for people facing serious or terminal illness.
The study, published in Frontiers in Virtual Reality, was led by Zhipeng Lu, PhD, assistant professor at Texas...
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