Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality (DiSCoVR) for People With a Psychotic Disorder:...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Psychology

Background:

• Individuals with psychotic disorders often face challenges in social cognition and functioning.
• Traditional social cognition training (SCT) may not fully replicate real-world social interactions.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers a realistic, adaptable environment for training social skills applicable to daily life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot test an immersive VR-based SCT program called Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality (DiSCoVR).
• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of DiSCoVR in individuals with psychotic disorders.
• To explore preliminary treatment effects on social cognition and related domains.

Main Methods:

• A single-group feasibility pilot study was conducted with 22 participants diagnosed with a psychotic disorder and experiencing social cognition deficits.
• Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated through participant and therapist surveys and dropout rates.
• Preliminary effects on social cognition, neurocognition, and psychiatric symptoms were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The DiSCoVR program was completed by 17 participants, indicating good feasibility and acceptability.
• Participants reported high satisfaction with the VR training, finding it useful for social activities.
• A significant improvement in emotion perception was observed, although other social cognition, neurocognition, and psychiatric measures did not show significant changes.

Conclusions:

• The DiSCoVR program is a feasible and acceptable intervention for individuals with psychotic disorders.
• VR-based social cognition training, like DiSCoVR, shows promise for improving specific aspects of social cognition, such as emotion perception.
• Further research is warranted to explore the broader impact and efficacy of DiSCoVR.