Acceptability, feasibility, and user satisfaction of a virtual reality relaxation intervention in a psychiatric outpatient setting during the COVID-19 pandemic

Humbert, Annika; Kohls, Elisabeth; Baldofski, Sabrina; Epple, Carola; Rummel-Kluge, Christine

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1271702

Cited by 2 publications

References 77 publications

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Immersive Technologies for Depression Care: Scoping Review

Reategui-Rivera,

Villarreal-Zegarra,

De La Cruz-Torralva

et al. 2024

JMIR Ment Health

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Background Depression significantly impacts quality of life, affecting approximately 280 million people worldwide. However, only 16.5% of those affected receive treatment, indicating a substantial treatment gap. Immersive technologies (IMTs) such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality offer new avenues for treating depression by creating immersive environments for therapeutic interventions. Despite their potential, significant gaps exist in the current evidence regarding the design, implementation, and use of IMTs for depression care. Objective We aim to map the available evidence on IMT interventions targeting depression treatment. Methods This scoping review followed a methodological framework, and we systematically searched databases for studies on IMTs and depression. The focus was on randomized clinical trials involving adults and using IMTs. The selection and charting process involved multiple reviewers to minimize bias. Results The search identified 16 peer-reviewed articles, predominantly from Europe (n=10, 63%), with a notable emphasis on Poland (n=9, 56%), which contributed to more than half of the articles. Most of the studies (9/16, 56%) were conducted between 2020 and 2021. Regarding participant demographics, of the 16 articles, 5 (31%) exclusively involved female participants, and 7 (44%) featured participants whose mean or median age was >60 years. Regarding technical aspects, all studies focused on VR, with most using stand-alone VR headsets (14/16, 88%), and interventions typically ranging from 2 to 8 weeks, predominantly in hospital settings (11/16, 69%). Only 2 (13%) of the 16 studies mentioned using a specific VR design framework in planning their interventions. The most frequently used therapeutic approach was Ericksonian psychotherapy, used in 56% (9/16) of the studies. Notably, none of the articles reported using an implementation framework or identified barriers and enablers to implementation. Conclusions This scoping review highlights the growing interest in using IMTs, particularly VR, for depression treatment but emphasizes the need for more inclusive and comprehensive research. Future studies should explore varied therapeutic approaches and cost-effectiveness as well as the inclusion of augmented reality to fully realize the potential of IMTs in mental health care.

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Immersive Technologies for Depression Care: Scoping Review

Reategui-Rivera,

Villarreal-Zegarra,

De La Cruz-Torralva

et al. 2024

JMIR Ment Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Immersive Technologies for Depression Care: Scoping Review (Preprint)

Reategui-Rivera,

Villarreal-Zegarra,

De La Cruz-Torralva

et al. 2024

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Depression significantly impacts the quality of life, affecting approximately 280 million people globally. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated depression, underscoring the need for innovative mental health solutions, particularly in resource-limited areas. Immersive technologies (IMT), like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), offer new avenues for treating depression by creating immersive environments for therapeutic interventions. OBJECTIVE We aimed to map the available evidence on IMT interventions targeting depression treatment. METHODS This scoping review followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework, systematically searching databases for studies on IMT and depression. The focus was on Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) involving adults and using IMT. The selection and charting process involved multiple reviewers to minimize bias. RESULTS The search identified 16 peer-reviewed articles, predominantly from Europe (56.3%), with a notable emphasis on Poland, contributing half of the studies (50%). These studies were primarily conducted between 2020 and 2021, accounting for 56.3% of the total. In terms of participant demographics, five articles (31.3%) exclusively involved female participants, and seven articles (43.8%) featured participant age means or medians above 60 years. Regarding technical aspects, all of the studies focused on VR, with most utilizing standalone VR headsets (87.5%), and interventions typically ranging from 2 to 8 weeks, predominantly in hospital settings. Only two studies mentioned the use of a specific VR design framework in planning their interventions. The most frequently employed therapeutic approach was Erickson's psychotherapy, used in 56.3% of the studies. Notably, none of the documents reported using an implementation framework or identified barriers and enablers to implementation. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review highlights the growing interest in using IMT, particularly VR, for depression treatment, but emphasizes the need for more inclusive and comprehensive research. Future studies should explore varied therapeutic approaches, cost-effectiveness, and the inclusion of AR to fully realize the potential of IMT in mental health care.

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Acceptability, feasibility, and user satisfaction of a virtual reality relaxation intervention in a psychiatric outpatient setting during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 2 publications

References 77 publications

Immersive Technologies for Depression Care: Scoping Review

Immersive Technologies for Depression Care: Scoping Review

Immersive Technologies for Depression Care: Scoping Review (Preprint)

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