An adaptive virtual reality system for the treatment of adjustment disorder and complicated grief: 1‐year follow‐up efficacy data

Abstract

Adjustment disorder (AD) and complicated grief (CG) are serious mental conditions that have a high prevalence and are associated with significant impairments in social and work functioning. Recently, these categories have been better specified in the new ICD‐11 proposal. Empirical research on the efficacy of treatments for these problems is scarce. This study aims to offer long‐term efficacy data from a between‐groups controlled study that compares two treatment conditions (AD‐protocol applied in a traditional way: N = 18 and the same protocol supported by virtual reality (VR); VR‐protocol applied in a traditional way: N = 18) and a waiting list (WL) control group (N = 18). Both treatment conditions resulted in statistically significant improvements on both primary and secondary outcome measures, with large effect sizes, and this improvement did not occur in the WL. These changes were maintained in both treatment conditions in the medium (6‐month) and long‐term (12‐month follow‐up). Larger effect sizes were achieved in the VR condition in the long term. Furthermore, clinically significant change estimations on the primary outcome measures showed an advantage for the VR condition This is the first controlled study to compare a traditional face‐to‐face protocol for the treatment of stress‐related disorders with the same protocol supported by VR and a WL control group.

Adjustment Disorder: Current Developments and Future Directions

“…The high drop-out rates from this trial (86%) prevent firm conclusions from being drawn. A second study targeted ICD-10 and DSM-IV adjustment disorder, and compared a face-to-face and virtual reality delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to the waitlist [56]. Both the face-to-face and virtual reality CBT resulted in significantly greater improvements to adjustment disorder relative to the wait-list controls at pre/post treatment.…”

“…In summary, the emergence of clear diagnostic criteria with ICD-11 has finally presented the opportunity for new treatment options to be developed and tested. Several emerging treatment options have utilised the internet to complement the therapeutic approach, which is likely to be appealing to individuals with sub-clinical problems such as adjustment disorder [56]. Additionally, treatments that are brief and scalable may be appropriate for the treatment of adjustment disorder.…”

Can Between-Session Homework Be Delivered Digitally? A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of CBT for Adjustment Disorders

“…Specifically, a flexible VR system called EMMA’s World was developed to assist in achieving this goal [22]. Results from a randomized controlled trial showed that the protocol has comparable effects with and without the use of the VR system, and the VR group showed slight superiority only at the 12-month follow-up [23]. However, VR can provide additional benefits.…”

Internet-Based Psychological Treatments for Grief: Review of Literature

“…Por tanto, estos podrían ser algunos de los motivos por los cuales Brodbeck et al (2017) incluyeran en su estudio pacientes con este perfil. En un estudio reciente realizado por Quero et al (2019) se encontró una eficacia similar de un TCC aplicado cara a cara y apoyado por realidad virtual, mostrándose ambas condiciones de intervención superiores a un grupo control lista de espera en el tratamiento de trastornos relacionados con estrés (trastornos adaptativos y TDP). El evento estresante sufrido en el 25.93% de los pacientes fue una ruptura sentimental o divorcio.…”