Use of Virtual Reality (VR)-Based Relaxation Among Female Patients with Mental Disorders: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychiatry
• Digital Therapeutics

Background:

• Anxiety, depression, and insomnia frequently co-occur in psychiatric patients, significantly impairing daily functioning.
• Virtual Reality (VR) shows promise as a relaxation tool, but its effectiveness compared to traditional Autogenic Training (AT) needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of VR relaxation versus Schultz Autogenic Training (AT) in reducing anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms.
• To evaluate the impact of inpatient versus home-based delivery settings on the effectiveness of VR and AT interventions.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 37 female psychiatric patients assigned to four groups: inpatient AT, inpatient VR, home-based AT, and home-based VR.
• Interventions consisted of at least 10 sessions over 2 weeks, with assessments of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and cognitive function before and after the intervention period.

Main Results:

• Across all participants, anxiety and depressive symptoms decreased, and sleep quality improved, with minor cognitive gains observed.
• Inpatient VR demonstrated the most comprehensive benefits, reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms while improving sleep quality.
• Home-based VR improved sleep quality, while home-based AT showed modest cognitive improvements but no significant changes in anxiety, depression, or sleep.

Conclusions:

• Both VR and AT are easily implementable interventions that can enhance mental health parameters, with effectiveness varying by context.
• Interventions delivered in an inpatient setting were generally more effective than home-based interventions, highlighting the importance of therapeutic structure and fewer distractions.
• Inpatient VR relaxation emerged as the most effective intervention, yielding the widest range of improvements in anxiety, depression, and sleep.