Embodying self-compassion within virtual reality and its effects on patients with depression

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-criticism is a ubiquitous feature of psychopathology and can be combatted by increasing levels of self-compassion. However, some patients are resistant to self-compassion.AimsTo investigate whether the effects of self-identification with virtual bodies within immersive virtual reality could be exploited to increase self-compassion in patients with depression.MethodWe developed an 8-minute scenario in which 15 patients practised delivering compassion in one virtual body and then experienced receiving it from themselves in another virtual body.ResultsIn an open trial, three repetitions of this scenario led to significant reductions in depression severity and self-criticism, as well as to a significant increase in self-compassion, from baseline to 4-week follow-up. Four patients showed clinically significant improvement.ConclusionsThe results indicate that interventions using immersive virtual reality may have considerable clinical potential and that further development of these methods preparatory to a controlled trial is now warranted.Declaration of interestNone.Copyright and usage© The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.

Head-Mounted Virtual Reality and Mental Health: Critical Review of Current Research (Preprint)

“…Exposure therapy in VR can draw on audio and visual stimuli, making the fearful stimuli appear as real as possible. The success of VR in treatment in PTSD, as well as embodiment studies [52,60], highlights the effectiveness in treating conditions which can be visual for the sufferers.…”

“…Some of the more successful interventions have relied on excessive visual components [50,52,60]. Whilst there is not any evidence to suggest newer VR systems -with higher screen resolution and field of view -are more clinically successful than older VR systems, more technically able systems are better equipped to execute complex interventions.…”

“…Only one intervention had depression as the primary target [52]. Through embodied VR child avatars, Falconer et al was able to achieve higher levels self-compassion for sufferers of depression.…”

“…This offers a very different VR experience to using primarily a HMD, however providing the environment remains immersive and reactive to the participant's movements then research from this type of VR remains pertinent. Two successful embodiment studies made use of HMDs with higher specifications: An nVisor sx111 with a resolution of 1280 x 1024 and a 111° diagonal field of view was used to provide self-compassion to crying baby avatars [52]. Kaiser et al [60] used a 2 nd edition Oculus Rift Developers Kit (960 x 1080 screen resolution and 110° diagonal field of view) to alter disturbed body experiences.…”

Virtual reality therapy set for a real renaissance

“…In 2016, he, Slater, and a team of other psychologists published an encouraging pilot study of a VRbased treatment (8). Fifteen subjects diagnosed with depression wore a headset that gave them the form of an adult avatar and were asked to comfort a distressed virtual child.…”