JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The application of immersive technologies, particularly Virtual Reality (VR), has expanded rapidly across healthcare domains, including mental health, rehabilitation, and education. These technologies enable controlled, interactive, and ecologically valid environments that can support therapeutic interventions, skills development, and behavioural assessment. Within forensic mental health (FMH) and prison settings, where individuals often present with complex psychological needs alongside restrictive and highly regulated environments, immersive technologies offer potential advantages such as safe simulation of real-world scenarios, enhanced engagement, and personalised intervention delivery. However, despite increasing interest, the evidence base remains fragmented, and questions persist regarding effectiveness, ethical implications, and feasibility of implementation in secure and resource-constrained contexts.

Objective:

Interest in immersive technologies in forensic mental health (FMH) and prison settings is growing, yet their role remains unclear. This scoping review maps current uses, highlights opportunities, and identifies key gaps and considerations for future implementation.

Methods:

A scoping review of English-language publications (2010 - 2025) was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, and CINAHL. Data extraction followed the JBI framework, and thematic analysis explored benefits, drawbacks, and implementation barriers.

Results:

Thirty sources were identified. Primary research focused mainly on Virtual Reality (VR) for therapy, skills training, education, and assessment. Evidence suggests benefits such as increased engagement, emotional regulation, skill acquisition, autonomy, and improved clinician-patient dialogue. However, studies were small, heterogeneous, and inconsistently reported, with limited long-term follow-up. Implementation barriers included institutional, ethical, and technical constraints, and limited personalisation and end-user involvement. Co-design and participatory approaches surfaced as key enablers of acceptability, relevance, and safe use.

Conclusions:

Immersive technologies show promise in FMH and prison contexts, but robust evidence, careful implementation, and end-user input are critical for safe, relevant, ethical, and effective use.