Virtual reality as a clinical tool in mental health research and practice

Bell, Imogen; Nicholas, Jennifer; Álvarez‐Jiménez, Mario; Thompson, Andrew; Valmaggia, Lucia

doi:10.31887/dcns.2020.22.2/lvalmaggia

Cited by 169 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…VR offers a high potential in ecological validity and controlled real life experiences (Bell et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, consumer and commercial VR has been available for a long time now (Riva & Serino, 2020 ).…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of virtual reality in assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders

Meyerbröker

Morina

2021

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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In recent years the development of new virtual environments has been qualitatively high and fast at the same time, but the dissemination of virtual reality (VR) in clinical practice is still scarce. The aim of this review is to give an insight into the state of the art of the use of VR as an assessment tool and treatment intervention in anxiety and related disorders as posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorders.Besides an overview into the efficacy of VR, a summary will be given on assumed working mechanisms in virtual reality exposure therapy and how this aligns with current theoretical models. Further, it will be discussed how VR is accepted by patients and research into the reluctance of therapist to use this technology during treatment with focus on the therapeutic alliance and how it may be influenced by the use of VR. Finally, we discuss clinical and future issues as, for

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Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of virtual reality in assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders

Meyerbröker

Morina

2021

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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“…With the help of a therapist, they progressively gain control over the voices, which leads to a reduction of symptoms and distress while increasing quality of life [12]. Despite encouraging early studies and its vast potential, psychotherapeutic treatment using digital technologies has still not been widely disseminated in research or clinical practice [10]. We attribute the limited deployment partially to unavailability as off the shelf tools, making implementation difficult [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Psychotherapeutic treatment using digital technologies, virtual reality in particular, has been shown to be at least as efficacious as other treatments [ 8 ]. In some fields, particularly schizophrenia, digital technologies have considerably extended therapeutic options [ 5 , 9 , 10 ], for example, with the novel implementation of Avatar Therapy, whereby psychotherapy is delivered through a computer interface [ 11 , 12 ]. Patients with auditory verbal hallucinations create an avatar of a human entity, to which they attribute the voices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite encouraging early studies and its vast potential, psychotherapeutic treatment using digital technologies has still not been widely disseminated in research or clinical practice [ 10 ]. We attribute the limited deployment partially to unavailability as off the shelf tools, making implementation difficult [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From previous research, it is known that for the optimal delivery of therapy through digital technologies, besides availability, the operability and functionality of the technology are crucial; only once these are well established can the therapist confidently utilize digital technology [ 14 , 15 ]. Moreover, the proper use of such technology is essential for the optimal delivery of the therapy, thus allowing the therapist to develop their therapeutic skills [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Virtual Reality Human–Human Interface to Deliver Psychotherapy to People Experiencing Auditory Verbal Hallucinations: Development and Usability Study

Brander¹,

Egger²,

Hürlimann³

et al. 2021

JMIR Serious Games

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Background Digital technologies have expanded the options for delivering psychotherapy, permitting for example, the treatment of schizophrenia using Avatar Therapy. Despite its considerable potential, this treatment method has not been widely disseminated. As a result, its operability and functionality remain largely unknown. Objective We aimed to study the usability of a therapeutic virtual reality human–human interface, created in a game engine. Methods Participants were psychiatric hospital staff who were introduced to the therapeutic platform in a hands-on session. The System Usability Scale (SUS) was employed for evaluation purposes. Statistical evaluation was conducted using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, analysis of variance, and multilevel factor analysis. Results In total, 109 staff members were introduced to the therapeutic tool and completed the SUS. The mean SUS global score was 81.49 (SD 11.1). Psychotherapists (mean 86.44, SD 8.79) scored significantly higher (F2,106=6.136; P=.003) than nursing staff (mean 79.01, SD 13.30) and administrative personnel (mean 77.98, SD 10.72). A multilevel factor analysis demonstrates a different factor structure for each profession. Conclusions In all professional groups in this study, the usability of a digital psychotherapeutic tool developed using a game engine achieved the benchmark for an excellent system, scoring highest among the professional target group (psychotherapists). The usability of the system seems, to some extent, to be dependent on the professional background of the user. It is possible to create and customize novel psychotherapeutic approaches with gaming technologies and platforms. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04099940; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04099940

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Acute Augmented Effect of Virtual Reality (VR)–Integrated Relaxation and Mindfulness Exercising on Anxiety and Insomnia Symptoms: A Retrospective Analysis of 103 Anxiety Disorder Patients With Prominent Insomnia

Zhou,

Chen,

Liu

et al. 2024

Brain and Behavior

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BackgroundAnxiety disorder is one of the most common mental disorders and often accompanied with sleep disturbance which can in turn exacerbate anxiety symptoms, creating a vicious cycle. In addition to psychopharmacological therapy, the effectiveness of psychotherapy as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating anxiety disorders and insomnia has been well documented and widely accepted, but it is labor‐intensive and costly. However, virtual reality (VR)–integrated CBT may improve this condition but needs more evidences to support its extensive application in routine clinical practice.ObjectivesThis explorative study was aimed to conduct a retrospective analysis to evaluate the acute (2 weeks) augmented effect of VR‐integrated relaxation and mindfulness exercising in improving anxiety and insomnia symptoms for patients who were diagnosed with anxiety disorders and concurrently with prominent insomnia symptoms and admitted to the Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University during January 2021 to June 2021.MethodsAll patients who were admitted to the department of psychiatry during January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 were screened with inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, and the sociodemographic and clinical data of those included patients were collected from the electronic medical record system of the hospital using a self‐designed case report form (CRF). Subjects who were administrated with medication alone were designated as conventional group, and those receiving treatment of medication combined with VR‐integrated CBT (VR relaxation and mindfulness exercising) as VR group. The baseline and 2‐week posttreatment data were compared between the two groups.ResultsIn total, there were 103 patients (70 female, 68%) included in the study. Among all, 68 (66.02%) were designated as the “VR group,” and 35 (33.98%) as the “conventional group.” The majority of patients (67%) were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Twenty‐three (22.3%) patients had a comorbid diagnosis with primary insomnia, and insomnia was just one of the accompanying symptoms with anxiety for the rest 80 subjects. No statistically significant differences were found between VR and conventional groups in all baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics except for occupation. There were statistically significant differences for the remission rates of anxiety symptoms or insomnia symptoms and reduction of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale or Insomnia Severity Index total scores between conventional and VR groups. Greater remission rates or score reductions were found in VR group than in conventional group either for anxiety or for insomnia. Robust differences still existed when controlled for the variable “occupation.”ConclusionsTwo‐week augmented VR‐integrated relaxation and mindfulness exercising is acutely beneficial for relieving both anxiety and insomnia symptoms and worth being recommended for routine clinical practice. Further prospective and randomized study compared to traditional CBT to explore its acute and long‐term effect on anxiety and insomnia is needed.

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Virtual reality as a clinical tool in mental health research and practice

Cited by 169 publications

References 77 publications

The use of virtual reality in assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders

The use of virtual reality in assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders

Virtual Reality Human–Human Interface to Deliver Psychotherapy to People Experiencing Auditory Verbal Hallucinations: Development and Usability Study

Acute Augmented Effect of Virtual Reality (VR)–Integrated Relaxation and Mindfulness Exercising on Anxiety and Insomnia Symptoms: A Retrospective Analysis of 103 Anxiety Disorder Patients With Prominent Insomnia

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