Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a promising tool in the treatment of mental disorders, particularly as a complement to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It enables patients to experience anxiety-provoking situations—such as public speaking or flying—in a controlled, immersive environment that feels realistic enough to trigger emotional and physical reactions.

A key application of VR is in exposure therapy, where patients gradually confront their fears. Unlike traditional settings, VR allows therapists to recreate difficult or impractical scenarios in a safe, repeatable way while monitoring and adjusting treatment in real time. This makes it especially effective for anxiety-related disorders, including phobias, social anxiety, and PTSD.

VR also helps reduce avoidance behaviors by offering a less intimidating starting point for patients who may struggle to face real-life situations. However, its effectiveness in treating other conditions, such as depression or addiction, remains less clear due to limited research.

Despite its advantages, VR has limitations, including costs, access to technology, and the need for proper therapist training. It may also cause side effects like dizziness in some users. Importantly, VR cannot replace real-life experiences; successful therapy still depends on applying learned skills in everyday situations.

Overall, VR is likely to play a significant role in the future of hybrid therapy models, combining traditional methods with digital tools to enhance treatment outcomes.

This cover review identifies CCN1 as a central molecular hub that integrates sensitive skin and skin aging. Upregulated by ultraviolet exposure, oxidative stress, or intrinsic aging, CCN1 drives barrier dysfunction, chronic inflammation, extracellular matrix degradation, and pigmentation abnormalities. In sensitive skin, acute CCN1 overactivation amplifies inflammation and increases permeability, while in aging skin, its sustained overexpression promotes inflammaging, collagen loss, and fibroblast senescence. Acting through integrin-dependent pathways such as NF‑κB, MAPK, and TGF‑β, CCN1 remodels the dermal‑epidermal microenvironment. Targeting CCN1 or its downstream signaling offers a promising strategy to restore skin homeostasis, shifting the focus from symptomatic relief toward key‑node regulation.

Every experience leaves a trace in the brain, a memory that can shape future behavior. Alcohol and other addictive substances are no exception. Over time, repeated alcohol use can create strong memories that link certain places, cues or actions with reward. These memories can persist even after a person stops drinking, making relapse a common and ongoing challenge for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.

New research from the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine at Texas A&M Health is helping to explain why this happens and may offer new clues for developing more effective treatments.

Acupuncture has long been used to restore physiological balance, yet its biological basis has remained elusive.