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Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
Published on: January 18, 2021
Predicting Efficacy of Virtual Reality-Based Stabilization for Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A
Yongmin Shin1, Euijin Kim2, Kibum Kim2
1Department of Psychology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Objective:
The global impact of respiratory infectious diseases led to significant mental health challenges, highlighting the need for proactive psychological interventions to prepare for future pandemics. In response, virtual reality-based stabilization (VRS) was developed to mitigate posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and related comorbidities.
Methods:
This study evaluated and predicted the effectiveness of VRS in 43 coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) survivors and healthcare workers from COVID-19 treatment units. The effectiveness of VRS, conducted over five sessions, was measured using preand post-intervention psychological assessments for PTSS, depression, anxiety, COVID-related fear, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life. Additionally, a machine learning model was used to predict the impact of the intervention on PTSS and depression based on preintervention psychological assessments and heart rate variability tests.
Results:
The post-intervention results showed significant improvements in all psychological outcomes. The machine learning-based model demonstrated good predictive accuracy for changes in PTSS and depression (R2=0.414-0.723). Notably, individuals with higher pre-intervention scores for PTSS and related comorbidities, as well as elevated heart rate variability and younger age, exhibited more significant improvements.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that VRS is effective in addressing PTSS and related conditions, and incorporating clinical and demographic data can enhance prediction models, enabling more personalized intervention strategies.
