Virtual Reality in Treatment for Psychological Problems in First-Line Health Care Professionals Fighting COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Series. Issue 10 (13th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Xiao; Zhang, Ying-Cheng; Ren, Ding; Lu, Li; Wang, Yi-Hao; Li, Guan-Xiong; Xiao, Ying; Zhou, Hong-Yu; Bai, Yong-Hai
• Is Part Of: Journal of nervous and mental disease. Volume 210:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: 754
• Page End: 759
• Publication Date: 2022-10-13
• Subjects: Virtual reality therapy (VRT) -- mindfulness -- COVID-19 -- health care professionals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neurology; Psychiatry; Neurologie; Psychiatrie; Neurology; Psychiatry; Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001531
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3018

Abstract

Abstract: Virtual reality therapy (VRT) is a new psychotherapeutic approach integrating virtual reality technology and psychotherapy. This case series aimed to study effectiveness of VRT in treating psychological problems. We described four cases of first-line health care professionals with emerging clinically significant early psychological problems during the COVID-19 outbreak, and specifically received the VRT treatment. We compared the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 items (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), PHQ-15, and Athens Insomnia Scale to evaluate psychological symptoms and sleep quality before and after sessions. All four cases showed a reduction in scale comparison. General scores of the PHQ-9 reduced 65%, GAD-7 reduced 52.17%, PHQ-15 decreased 38.17%, and scores of the Athens Insomnia Scale reduced 67.44%. Meanwhile, a reduction in depression, anxiety, psychosomatic, and sleeping symptoms was also found, which decreased 76.92% in general. These results are highly significant statistically. This case series demonstrated the effectiveness of VRT on psychological problems as a promising approach to apply on various psychological distress and disorders.