[pizzeys]

This is indeed an area of research, you're not unique in seeing this use (sorry! :D)

I am agoraphobic and am aware of, though have not participated in, virtual reality assisted exposure therapy programs for agoraphobics. It's early days, but there's people working on it.

It's particularly exciting for agoraphobia and certain other anxiety issues which respond very well to exposure, but exposure is expensive and difficult to do and takes a lot of work on behalf of the patient and practitioner, whereas VR obviously makes things easier if you can make it work as well.