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Efficacy of adaptive cognitive training through desktop virtual reality and paper-and-pencil in the treatment of mental and behavioral disorders

  • S.I. : Virtual Reality for Therapy, Psychological Interventions, and Physical and Cognitive Rehabilitation
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Abstract

Cognitive deficits are a core feature of mental and behavioral disorders, leading to poor treatment adherence and functionality. Virtual reality (VR) methodologies are promising solutions for cognitive interventions in psychiatry once they provide greater ecological validity. This study assessed and compared two content-equivalent cognitive training (CT) interventions, delivered in desktop VR (Reh@City v2.0) and paper-and-pencil (Task Generator (TG)) formats, in patients with mental and behavioral disorders. 30 patients were randomly assigned to the Reh@City v2.0 group and the TG group. Both groups of patients underwent a time-matched 24-sessions intervention. Neuropsychological assessments were performed at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. A within-groups analysis revealed significant improvements in visual memory and depressive symptomatology after the Reh@City intervention. The TG group improved in processing speed, verbal memory, and quality of life (social relationships and environmental domains). Between groups, Reh@City led to a greater reduction in depressive symptomatology, whereas the TG group showed higher improvements in social relationships aspects of quality of life. At follow-up, previous gains were maintained and new improvements found in the Reh@City (global cognitive function, language, visuospatial and executive functions) and the TG groups (attention). The Reh@City significantly reduced depressive symptomatology, and the TG led to greater improvements in processing speed, abstraction, and social relationships domain of quality of life at follow-up. Both interventions were associated with important cognitive, emotional, and quality of life benefits, which were maintained after two months. Reh@City and TG should be considered as complementary CT methods for patients with mental and behavioral disorders.

Trial registration The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT04291586.

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Notes

  1. The Reh@City and the TG, despite being content-equivalent methodologies, are delivered in different formats (desktop VR vs. paper-and-pencil) (Faria et al. 2019).

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) through the Belief Revision applied to Neurorehabilitation (BRaNT) project (PTDC/CCICOM/30990/2017), the Development and clinical validation of an adaptive cognitive training virtual tool for stroke patients project (SFRH/BD/145919/2019), which is a PhD Grant awarded to Joana Câmara, and the MACBIOIDI projects (MAC/1.1.b/098), and by the NOVA Laboratory of Computer Science and Informatics (UID/CEC/04516/2019).

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  1. Casa de Saúde Câmara Pestana, Rua do Lazareto, 9060-378, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

    Joana Câmara, Rute Ferreira, Liliana Teixeira, Joana Nóbrega & Carina Romeira

  2. Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115, Coimbra, Portugal

    Joana Câmara

  3. NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    Joana Câmara, Sergi Bermúdez i Badia & Ana Lúcia Faria

  4. Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia, Universidade da Madeira, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105, Funchal, Portugal

    Sergi Bermúdez i Badia

  5. Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute, Universidade da Madeira, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

    Joana Câmara, Sergi Bermúdez i Badia & Ana Lúcia Faria

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Câmara, J., Ferreira, R., Teixeira, L. et al. Efficacy of adaptive cognitive training through desktop virtual reality and paper-and-pencil in the treatment of mental and behavioral disorders. Virtual Reality 27, 291–306 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-021-00559-6

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