Leveraging Virtual Reality to Investigate the Relationship between Psychological Disorders, Hormonal Secretion, and Nutrition

Psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression are complex conditions influenced by hormonal imbalances and nutritional factors. Due to environmental variability and challenges in participant engagement, traditional research methods often struggle to capture the dynamic interplay among these elements. This study leverages virtual reality (VR) technology to create immersive and controlled environments for investigating the relationships between psychological disorders, hormonal secretion, and nutrition. We utilized VR to assess and influence hormonal secretion and psychological symptoms in fifty adults diagnosed with anxiety or depressive disorders. Participants engaged in VR sessions that included stress-inducing scenarios and educational content on nutrition. Salivary cortisol levels were measured before and after the VR interventions to assess stress responses, while standardized psychological assessments were administered both before and after the intervention. Nutritional intake was monitored using a VR-integrated food diary app. Statistical analyses revealed significant reductions in cortisol levels and improvements in depression and anxiety scores post-intervention (p < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that VR-based interventions can effectively reduce stress hormones, improve mental health outcomes, and promote healthier nutritional behaviors, highlighting the potential for integrating VR technology with dietary interventions in holistic treatment strategies for psychological disorders.