Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is becoming popular for treating
phobia and
anxiety disorder. The recent pandemic of
COVID-19 not only causes
infection per se but also has an impact on mental health. This case series aimed to explore the role of VRET in the intervention of
psychiatric illnesses with chief complaints of fear of
COVID-19 infection. In vivo exposure therapy for fear of
COVID-19 infection is not possible due to the risk of
virus infection; in this scenario, the VRET provides an immersive experience and can act as adjunctive
therapy for treating
phobias and
anxiety disorders arising due to novel coronavirus pandemic. Clinical presentation and findings as well as management and procedures of VRET are discussed. Medical record of three patients (two male and one female) at the Shenzhen Mental Health Center (Shenzhen Kangning Hospital), China, was included in the present case series. Patients were assessed with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Fear of
COVID-19 Scale to measure anxiety and fear, respectively. Throughout VRET sessions, we gradually and systematically exposed the patient to virtual
COVID-19 scenarios (for example, touching stained door handle which may have viruses, watching pandemic news, watching frontline health care workers, etc.). In our study, VRET intervention significantly reduced the related symptoms caused by fear of
COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, virtual reality can provide relevant theoretical and practical support for exploring the remote psychological counseling of patients in isolation wards.