Using Virtual Reality in the Inference-Based Treatment of Compulsive Hoarding

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Compulsive hoarding (CH) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent difficulty discarding possessions.
• Inference-based therapy (IBT) is an established treatment for CH, focusing on cognitive processes.
• The integration of technology, such as virtual reality (VR), is being explored to enhance therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of adding a virtual reality (VR) component to inference-based therapy (IBT) for compulsive hoarding (CH).
• To compare the effects of IBT with and without VR on symptom reduction in individuals with CH.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with two groups: experimental (IBT + VR) and control (IBT only).
• Seven participants were assigned to each condition, receiving five weekly 1-hour sessions.
• Standardized measures for CH symptoms, including the Saving Inventory-Revised, Saving Cognition Inventory, and Clutter Image Rating scale, were used for post-treatment assessment.

Main Results:

• The experimental group (IBT + VR) showed a trend towards greater reduction in bedroom clutter compared to the control group (p=0.10).
• Both groups reported high levels of immersion and presence within the therapeutic environment.
• Post-treatment measures indicated significant symptom reduction for CH in both groups, highlighting the efficacy of IBT.

Conclusions:

• The addition of a virtual environment may enhance the effectiveness of IBT in treating compulsive hoarding.
• VR-based interventions show potential for helping individuals with CH to take action in managing their clutter.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm the benefits of VR in CH treatment.