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The Role of Machine Learning in AR/VR-Based Cognitive Therapies: A Systematic Review for Mental Health Disorders
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Description: This systematic review evaluates the integration of machine learning (ML) algorithms with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to enhance cognitive therapies for mental health disorders. The paper presents, through analysis of n=141 studies following PRISMA guidelines, the depiction that ML-driven approaches bear a high impact on personalization and real-time adaptation of AR/VR therapies. The main findings indicate that VR therapies demon-strate high efficacy, with significant symptom improvement in the treatment of conditions such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, and phobias. ML technologies, including neural networks, supervised learning, and reinforcement learning, further enhance such results by facilitating real-time mod-ification and predictive analytics, optimizing therapy parameters, and improving patient en-gagement. Besides, the VR therapies augmented with ML demonstrated better treatment adher-ence and long-term benefits continuing for as long as six months. Despite these promising results, the review identified several technical and clinical challenges. Small sample sizes in some studies limit the generalizability of results, while ethical concerns on data privacy and algorithmic bias are raised. Other limitations include the possibility of motion sickness and inconsistent adherence rates with AR/VR interventions. There is also a call for high-quality virtual environments to ensure maximum therapeutic benefits. The review also highlights the transformative potential of inte-grating ML with AR/VR technologies. It suggests that this combination could yield highly per-sonalized, scalable, and effective treatments for mental health conditions. Future research needs to work out real-time adaptation capabilities and involve more extensive randomized control trials, complete clinical validation, and explorations of hybrid AI-therapist models. Ensuring method-ological rigor and addressing ethical oversight are critical for the successful implementation and broader acceptance of ML-enhanced AR/VR cognitive therapies in clinical practice.
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