Break in volition: a virtual reality study in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Research in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) produced inconsistent results in demonstrating an association between patients' symptom severity and their cognitive impairments. The process involved in volition aspects of behavioral syndromes can be extensively analyzed using specific tests developed in virtual environments, more suitable to manipulate rules and possible breaks of the normal task execution with different, confusing or stopping instructions. The study involved thirty participants (15 OCD patients and 15 controls) during task execution and the relative interferences. At this purpose, the virtual version of Multiple Errands Test was used. Virtual reality setting, with a higher ecological validity respect to a classic neuropsychological battery, allowed us to take into account deficits of volition and the relative dysexecutive functions associated with OCD patients. The proposed paradigm also allows the development of innovative prototypes of coevolving technologies based on new theories and models and deeper understanding of human behavior

Psychometric assessment and behavioral experiments using a free virtual reality platform and computational science

“…The experience acquired from previous versions of the platform facilitated testing in experimental and clinical settings on patients with different conditions, in particular Stroke [18], obsessive compulsive disorders [4, 13], generalized anxiety disorders [16, 19, 20], Parkinson’s [3], Neglect [17], Eating Disorders [28], and Schizophrenia [13], among others. Additionally, VR has been used in exposure therapy for fear, stress, and anxiety and in assessment protocols.…”

A Technological Tool for Intervention to Social Anxiety: Virtual Reality

“…Derleme çalışmalar, kontrol grupsuz deneysel çalışmalar, randomize kontrollü çalışmalar hatta son dönemde meta analiz çalışmaları bu alandaki çalışmalara örnektir. SG uygulamaları post travmatik stres bozukluğu, [6][7][8][9][10] obsesif kompulsif bozukluk, [11][12][13] alkol kötüye kullanımı, [14] yeme bozuklukları ve beden imajı ile ilgili problemler [15,16] ve şizofreni [17,18] gibi birçok alanda kullanılmaktadır. SG uygulamaları bu çalışmalarda zaman zaman bir müdahale yöntemi, zaman zaman bir tanı koyabilme aracı olarak kullanılmıştır.…”

A Virtual Reality Test for the Assessment of Cognitive Deficits: Usability and Perspectives

“…Thank to these features, VR provides a unique medium suited to the achievement of several requirements for effective rehabilitation intervention: repetitive practice, feedback about performance, and motivation to endure practice [5][6][7][8]. Specifically, using VR it is also possible to drive and control exercises for patient rehabilitation within a functional, purposeful and motivating context [9][10].…”