The Effect of Virtual Reality on Emotional Response and Symptoms Provocation in Patients With OCD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based technology on emotional response and symptoms in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). We systematically searched major electronic databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, ISI Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane central, up to April 14, 2021, with no data or language limits. We performed reference, related articles, and citation searches to find additional articles. We included original articles comparing and studying VR-based technology in patients with OCD against the control group. We observed that VR significantly increases in anxiety (SMD = 2.92; 95% CI 1.89–3.94, p < 0.0001; I2 = 95%), disgust (SMD = 2.52; 95% CI 1.36–3.68, p < 0.0001; I2 = 95%), urge to wash (SMD = 3.12; 95% CI 1.92–4.32, p < 0.0001; I2 = 94%), checking time (SMD = 1.06; 95% CI 0.71–1.4, p < 0.0001; I2 = 44%), number of checking behavior (SMD = 1.45; 95% CI 0.06–2.83, p = 0.04; I2 = 93%), and uncertainty (SMD = 2.59; 95% CI 0.90–4.27, p = 0.003; I2 = 70%) in OCD patients compared with healthy controls using a random-effect model. This meta-analysis found that this environment has a moderate enhancement in emotional response and symptoms test scores of patients with OCD. However, our findings should be generalized with caution due to the lack of standardized methods and high heterogeneity among included evidence. The appropriate mode of integrating VR-based technology for patients with OCD requires more exploration.

Essentials of Informed Consent to Psychedelic Medicine

“…46 Virtual reality is sometimes used in exposure therapy for PTSD 47 and obsessive compulsive disorder. 48 However, it can have adverse effects, such as headache and seizures, 49 warranting caution and additional research. In the meantime, informed consent processes could be aided by interactive devices already in clinical use, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.…”

Brain Activation During Virtual Reality Symptom Provocation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Proof-of-Concept Study

“…Furthermore, in a systematic review and meta-analysis by Dehghan et al [5], it was found that VR environments were capable of significantly increasing anxiety, disgust, uncertainty, washing urges, time spent on checking, and the number of checks in patients with OCD compared to healthy controls.…”

Effectiveness of Augmented and Virtual Reality-Based Interventions in Improving Knowledge, Attitudes, Empathy and Stigma Regarding People with Mental Illnesses—A Scoping Review

“…Since then, the use of VR as a treatment modality has grown. Of note, there are recent studies examining the effectiveness of AR/VR-based therapeutic modalities in the management of patients with neurodevelopmental spectrum conditions (such as autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders) [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], anxiety disorders (such as phobias) [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], obsessive compulsive disorder [ 28 , 29 , 30 ], post-traumatic stress disorder [ 31 ], and cognitive impairments in the elderly [ 32 , 33 ]. In comparison, there are fewer studies specifically elucidating the effectiveness of AR/VR based interventions as a psychoeducational tool such as in improving understanding of mental illnesses, engendering more positive attitudes regarding people with mental illnesses [ 34 , 35 ] and reduction of stigma [ 36 , 37 ].…”