A Gamified Virtual Reality Approach to Support Anxiety Management

Anxiety and panic attacks are among the most prevalent mental health challenges today, significantly impacting individuals’ lives, emotional stability, and overall well-being. Despite the availability of effective therapeutic techniques many individuals struggle to apply these tools consistently, particularly during acute episodes. This gap reveals the need for accessible, personalized, and engaging digital interventions that support both prevention and crisis management. This article presents the design, development, and evaluation of a digital solution that leverages Virtual Reality (VR) to assist individuals in managing anxiety. To maximize user engagement, the solution incorporates gamification elements grounded in psychological principles. The prototype was evaluated through usability testing and qualitative feedback from both mental health experts and end-users. The results confirmed the high usability and therapeutic potential of the approach as participants reported increased feelings of calmness and being better able to cope with anxiety issues.