TY - JOUR

T1 - Feasibility and effect of an immersive virtual reality-based platform for cognitive training in real-life scenarios in patients with mood - or psychotic disorders: A randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study

AU - Jespersen, Andreas E.

AU - Røen, Isabella S.

AU - Lumbye, Anders

AU - Nordentoft, Merete

AU - Glenthøj, Louise B.

AU - Miskowiak, Kamilla W.

PY - 2023/1/1

Y1 - 2023/1/1

N2 - ObjectivesCognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training.MethodsForty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies.ResultsThe completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests.ConclusionVR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.Objectives Cognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training. Methods Forty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies. Results The completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests. Conclusion VR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.Objectives Cognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training. Methods Forty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies. Results The completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests. Conclusion VR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.Objectives Cognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training. Methods Forty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies. Results The completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests. Conclusion VR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.

AB - ObjectivesCognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training.MethodsForty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies.ResultsThe completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests.ConclusionVR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.Objectives Cognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training. Methods Forty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies. Results The completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests. Conclusion VR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.Objectives Cognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training. Methods Forty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies. Results The completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests. Conclusion VR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.Objectives Cognitive impairment is common across mood disorders (MD) and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSD) but there is a lack of real-life pro-cognitive training programmes. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential to ensure motivating, engaging cognition training directly relevant to patients’ daily lives. This randomized, controlled proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility and cognitive benefits of short-term VR-assisted training. Methods Forty patients with MD or PSD were randomized to one week of VR-assisted training (n ​= ​20) or treatment as usual (TAU; n ​= ​20). They were assessed at baseline and after one week with a VR cognition test, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires regarding user experience. Patients in the training group underwent two VR training sessions in a kitchen environment that involved solving tasks related to planning and cooking a meal using various cognitive strategies. They also completed two home assignments during which they applied the acquired strategies. Results The completion rate was 100%. Patients reported high enjoyment and moderate-to-high presence in the VR environment and minimal motion sickness. VR training improved the global VR-based cognitive composite score with a large effect size compared with TAU (F(1, 38) ​= ​11,29, p ​= ​.002, η2 ​= ​0.23). Posthoc assessments of VR subtests showed that this improvement was driven primarily by a large effect on psychomotor speed (F(1, 38) ​= ​22.78, p ​< ​.001, η2 ​= ​0.39), but no effects were observed on other VR subtests or on traditional neuropsychological tests. Conclusion VR-assisted cognition training showed high feasibility and improved aspects of cognition after only one week. We therefore plan a larger trial to investigate the cognitive benefits of four-weeks VR-assisted cognition training.

U2 - 10.1016/j.nsa.2023.101120

DO - 10.1016/j.nsa.2023.101120

M3 - Journal article

VL - 2

JO - Neuroscience Applied

JF - Neuroscience Applied

SN - 2772-4085

M1 - 101120

ER -