VR-based psychotherapy intervention on alleviating depression and anxiety for Hong Kong populations: a mixed method...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychotherapy
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Rising rates of depression and anxiety in Hong Kong.
• Gaps in public healthcare services for mental health.
• Need for accessible and immediate therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a culturally adapted Virtual Reality (VR) psychotherapy.
• To assess VR-based interventions for Cantonese-speaking adults with mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety.
• To explore user experience and therapeutic mechanisms of VR psychotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Sequential explanatory mixed-methods design.
• Four culturally specific VR scenarios: "Crying Girl," "MTR," "Emigration," "Rock-paper-scissors."
• Quantitative pre-post assessments and qualitative interviews/focus groups.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in depressive symptoms and increases in self-compassion with the "Crying Girl" scenario.
• Significant reductions in stress with the "MTR" scenario.
• High participant value for immersion, ecological validity, and culturally resonant scenarios.

Conclusions:

• Culturally adapted VR psychotherapy is a safe and engaging intervention for common mental disorders.
• User-centered design is crucial to address technical barriers and improve accessibility.
• Further controlled trials are needed to evaluate efficacy and guide implementation.