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Dynamic interactive social cognition training in virtual reality (DiSCoVR) for people with a psychotic disorder : Single-group feasibility and acceptability study

Nijman, Saskia Anne ; Veling, Wim ; Greaves-Lord, Kirstin ; Vos, Maarten ; Zandee, Catharina Elizabeth Regina ; het Rot, Marije Aan ; Geraets, Chris Neeltje Wil LU and Pijnenborg, Gerdina Hendrika Maria (2020) In JMIR Mental Health 7(8). p.1-18
Abstract

Background: People with a psychotic disorder commonly experience problems in social cognition and functioning. Social cognition training (SCT) improves social cognition, but may inadequately simulate real-life social interactions. Virtual reality (VR) provides a realistic, interactive, customizable, and controllable training environment, which could facilitate the application of skills in daily life. Objective: We developed a 16-session immersive VR SCT (Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality [DiSCoVR]) and conducted a single-group feasibility pilot study. Methods: A total of 22 people with a psychotic disorder and reported problems in social cognition participated. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed... (More)

Background: People with a psychotic disorder commonly experience problems in social cognition and functioning. Social cognition training (SCT) improves social cognition, but may inadequately simulate real-life social interactions. Virtual reality (VR) provides a realistic, interactive, customizable, and controllable training environment, which could facilitate the application of skills in daily life. Objective: We developed a 16-session immersive VR SCT (Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality [DiSCoVR]) and conducted a single-group feasibility pilot study. Methods: A total of 22 people with a psychotic disorder and reported problems in social cognition participated. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using a survey for participants and therapists, and by examining relevant parameters (eg, dropouts). We analyzed preliminary treatment effects on social cognition, neurocognition, and psychiatric symptoms. Results: A total of 17 participants completed the study. Participants enjoyed DiSCoVR (mean 7.25, SD 2.05; range 3-10), thought it was useful for daily social activities (mean 7.00, SD 2.05; range 3-10), and enjoyed the combination of VR and a therapist (mean 7.85, SD 2.11; range 3-10). The most frequently mentioned strength of DiSCoVR was the opportunity to practice with personalized social situations (14/20, 70%). A significant improvement of emotion perception was observed (Ekman 60 Faces; t16=-4.79, P<.001, d=-0.67), but no significant change was found in other measures of social cognition, neurocognition, psychiatric symptoms, or self-esteem. Conclusions: DiSCoVR was feasible and acceptable to participants and therapists, and may improve emotion perception.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Cognitive remediation therapy, Emotion perception, Psychotic disorder, Social cognition, Social cognition training, Theory of mind, Virtual reality
in
JMIR Mental Health
volume
7
issue
8
article number
e17808
pages
1 - 18
publisher
JMIR Publications Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85097854949
ISSN
2368-7959
DOI
10.2196/17808
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © Saskia Anne Nijman, Wim Veling, Kirstin Greaves-Lord, Maarten Vos, Catharina Elizabeth Regina Zandee, Marije Aan het Rot, Chris Neeltje Wil Geraets, Gerdina Hendrika Maria Pijnenborg. Originally published in JMIR Mental Health (http://mental.jmir.org), 07.08.2020. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Mental Health, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://mental.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.
id
7c32bc9e-4232-48c9-8fbe-f37632d71225
date added to LUP
2024-10-21 10:43:01
date last changed
2024-10-22 09:17:21
@article{7c32bc9e-4232-48c9-8fbe-f37632d71225,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: People with a psychotic disorder commonly experience problems in social cognition and functioning. Social cognition training (SCT) improves social cognition, but may inadequately simulate real-life social interactions. Virtual reality (VR) provides a realistic, interactive, customizable, and controllable training environment, which could facilitate the application of skills in daily life. Objective: We developed a 16-session immersive VR SCT (Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality [DiSCoVR]) and conducted a single-group feasibility pilot study. Methods: A total of 22 people with a psychotic disorder and reported problems in social cognition participated. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using a survey for participants and therapists, and by examining relevant parameters (eg, dropouts). We analyzed preliminary treatment effects on social cognition, neurocognition, and psychiatric symptoms. Results: A total of 17 participants completed the study. Participants enjoyed DiSCoVR (mean 7.25, SD 2.05; range 3-10), thought it was useful for daily social activities (mean 7.00, SD 2.05; range 3-10), and enjoyed the combination of VR and a therapist (mean 7.85, SD 2.11; range 3-10). The most frequently mentioned strength of DiSCoVR was the opportunity to practice with personalized social situations (14/20, 70%). A significant improvement of emotion perception was observed (Ekman 60 Faces; t<sub>16</sub>=-4.79, P&lt;.001, d=-0.67), but no significant change was found in other measures of social cognition, neurocognition, psychiatric symptoms, or self-esteem. Conclusions: DiSCoVR was feasible and acceptable to participants and therapists, and may improve emotion perception.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nijman, Saskia Anne and Veling, Wim and Greaves-Lord, Kirstin and Vos, Maarten and Zandee, Catharina Elizabeth Regina and het Rot, Marije Aan and Geraets, Chris Neeltje Wil and Pijnenborg, Gerdina Hendrika Maria}},
  issn         = {{2368-7959}},
  keywords     = {{Cognitive remediation therapy; Emotion perception; Psychotic disorder; Social cognition; Social cognition training; Theory of mind; Virtual reality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{1--18}},
  publisher    = {{JMIR Publications Inc.}},
  series       = {{JMIR Mental Health}},
  title        = {{Dynamic interactive social cognition training in virtual reality (DiSCoVR) for people with a psychotic disorder : Single-group feasibility and acceptability study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/17808}},
  doi          = {{10.2196/17808}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}