Metaverse as a possible tool for reshaping schema modes in treating personality disorders

Personality disorders (PD) are usually treated with face-to-face sessions and/or digital mental health services. Among many schools of therapies, schema therapy stands out because rather than simply targeting the symptoms of PD, it cordially targets the cause of PD and heals the early maladaptive schema, thus is exceptionally good at soothing emotional disturbances before enacting cognitive restructuring, resulting in long-term efficacy. However, according to Piaget's genetic epistemology, the unmet needs lie in the fact that the schemata that determine the adaptive behavior can only be formed in the interaction with the real world that the patient is living in and reconsolidated by the feedback from the object world upon the patient's newly-formed behavior. Therefore, in order to reshape the patient's schema modes to support adaptive behavior and regain emotional regulation capabilities of the healthy adult, one may have to reconstruct the object world surrounding the patient. Metaverse, the bestowed successor to the Internet with the cardinal feature of the sense of full presence, can become a powerful tool to reconstruct a new object world for the patient with the prescription of a psychotherapist, so as to transform the treatment techniques in schema therapy into the natural autobiographical experiences of patients in the new object world, thus gradually reshape the patient's schema modes that can ultimately result in an adaptive, and more inclusive, interaction with the real world. This work describes the underlying theory, the mechanism, the process, and ethical considerations of such promising technology for the not-too-far future.

Automated summary

Personality disorders are often treated through face-to-face sessions or digital mental health services. Schema therapy is a standout therapy that not only targets the symptoms of personality disorders, but also focuses on addressing their underlying causes by healing early maladaptive schemas. This therapy is particularly effective at soothing emotional disturbances before implementing cognitive restructuring, leading to long-term efficacy. However, according to Piaget's genetic epistemology, the formation of adaptive behavioral schemas can only occur through interaction with the real world and feedback from the environment. Therefore, to reshape a patient's schema modes and restore their emotional regulation capabilities, it may be necessary to reconstruct the patient's surroundings. Metaverse, the successor to the Internet with a sense of full presence, can be a powerful tool for this purpose, allowing therapists to transform schema therapy techniques into natural autobiographical experiences within a new virtual environment. This can gradually reshape the patient's schema modes, ultimately enabling more adaptive and inclusive interaction with the real world.