Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy as a Support for Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized-Controlled Trial

Gajda³

et al. 2021

JCM

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The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of virtual reality (VR)-enhanced cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in reducing the intensity of depression and anxiety symptoms in patients undergoing phase II of CR in ambulatory conditions. One hundred participants (mean age 65.7 years) were divided randomly into two groups. Both groups took part in eight sessions of standard CR (three times per week). The experimental group was additionally supported by eight sessions of VR therapy using the VR TierOne device and the control group by eight sessions of Schultz Autogenic Training. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used as the primary outcome measure. The Perception of Stress Questionnaire was used as the secondary outcome measure. The data from 77 participants were subject to analysis. Post-intervention, in the experimental group, the overall HADS score was statistically significantly reduced by 13.5%, HADS-Depression by 20.8%, and the general stress level by 12.8% (p < 0.05). In the control group, the scores of the HADS, HADS-Anxiety and the general stress level were statistically significantly higher, by 4.8%, 6.5%, and 4.9%, respectively. VR-enhanced CR for individuals with cardiovascular disease reduced the level of anxiety and depression symptoms compared to standard CR.

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Evaluation of the Impact of Virtual Reality-Enhanced Cardiac Rehabilitation on Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Jóźwik

Gajda³

et al. 2021

JCM

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“…By examining the use of VR therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, we have shown that it can significantly reduce the severity of depression symptoms and the level of stress [ 41 ]. We obtained similar results when examining the use of VR TierOne in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) [ 40 ]. However, in both cited studies, the reduction of the tested parameters was smaller than in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…VR TierOne was produced under a grant from the Polish National Center for Research and Development. The same device has been used in recently published studies on cardiological and pulmonological rehabilitation [ 40 , 41 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Therapeutic Garden: A Promising Method Supporting the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Late-Life: A Randomized Pilot Study

Szczepańska-Gieracha

Serweta

et al. 2021

JCM

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The multifactorial genesis of old-age depression requires multi-professional therapy combining physical activity and psychosocial interventions; however, there is still a percentage of older people who do not exhibit satisfactory improvements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual therapy in the elderly for whom the previous multimodal, biopsychosocial therapeutic programme had not brought the expected results. Twenty-five elderly women with depressive symptoms were randomly divided into a virtual reality group (VR, n = 13) and a control group (Control, n = 12). The average age was 70.73 and the average intensity of depression symptoms amounted to 12.26 in the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). As a virtual reality source, the VRTierOne (Stolgraf®) device was used. The therapeutic cycle consisted of eight virtual therapy sessions, twice a week for four weeks. As primary and secondary outcome measures, the GDS-30 was performed at three time points. In the VR group, the GDS-30 score was reduced by 36%, and the result persisted in the follow-up tests. Immersive virtual therapy significantly lowered the intensity of depressive symptoms, as well as stress and anxiety levels in older women taking part in the group-based multimodal therapeutic programme, whose earlier therapy had not brought the expected results.

“…The VR TierOne medical device was developed under a grant received from the National Centre of Research and Development (NCRD). The therapeutic method was described in earlier publications [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Virtual Therapy in Cardiac Rehabilitation of Female Patients with Heart Disease

Jóźwik

Gajda³

et al. 2021

Medicina

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Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly prevalent in women, and it is also in this group that the risk of developing depression is the highest. The most commonly applied therapeutic intervention in cardiac rehabilitation is Schultz’s autogenic training, which has proven to be of little efficacy in reducing depression and anxiety disorders. At the same time, a growing number of scientific reports have been looking at the use of virtual reality (VR) to treat mental health problems. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of virtual therapy in reducing levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in female CVD patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 43 women who were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (N = 17), where eight-week cardiac rehabilitation was enhanced with VR-based therapeutic sessions, and control group (N = 26), where the VR therapy was replaced with Schultz’s autogenic training. Mental state parameters were measured using the Perception of Stress Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: In the experimental group, the sole parameter which failed to improve was HADS-Anxiety, which remained at the baseline level. In the control group, there was a deterioration in nearly all tested parameters except for HADS-Depression. Statistically significant differences in the efficacy of rehabilitation were recorded in relation to the level of stress in the sub-scales: emotional tension (p = 0.005), external stress (p = 0.012), intrapsychic stress (p = 0.023) and the generalized stress scale (p = 0.004). Conclusions: VR therapy is an efficient and interesting complement to cardiac rehabilitation, with proven efficacy in reducing stress levels.