Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot study
Introduction New technologies have been steadily impacting and redefining the health care landscape over the last decades, a process recently enhanced by the covid-19 pandemics . VR is an advanced media that can simulate highly realistic virtual environments, providing a high sense of immersion (th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-03-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823019107/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827753733593759744 |
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| author | J. I. Mena B. Andrés I. Hernandez A. Bastidas E. Cesari I. Ochandiano S. Salmerón P. Barrio |
| author_facet | J. I. Mena B. Andrés I. Hernandez A. Bastidas E. Cesari I. Ochandiano S. Salmerón P. Barrio |
| author_sort | J. I. Mena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
New technologies have been steadily impacting and redefining the health care landscape over the last decades, a process recently enhanced by the covid-19 pandemics . VR is an advanced media that can simulate highly realistic virtual environments, providing a high sense of immersion (the feeling of “being really there”). VR has expanded its healthcare application over the last years. Surprisingly, the acute psychiatry ward has been, so far, systematically left out of the VR application field. Psychiatric wards are complex environments. Patients are frequently admitted against their will and many wards have a locked doors policy, with subsequent feelings of seclusion experienced by patients. Therefore the question emerges: could VR help psychiatry inpatients have a better experience during their hospitalization?
Objectives
This is a pilot study where psychiatry inpatients are offered a single session with the Oculus Quest 2, where they are immersed in a computer generate scenario provided by a commercially available software (“Nature Treks”). The scenario is a nature-based immersive 360° walk. Patients are allowed to freely explore the scenario with no time restraints.
Methods
The STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) questionnaires are completed by patients before and after the VR exposure. After exposure, patients are also asked to complete the SUS (System Usability Scale) questionnaire, the IQ-presence questionnaire and the SSQ (Simulator Sickness Questionnaire). Electrophysiological recordings are gathered with the Empatica E4.
Results
Up to date, 4 patients have been recruited. The sessions have lasted around 10 minutes. Reductions in the STAI and the PANAS have been reported by 3 patients (with no statistical significance so far). Usability has been extremely high as reported by the SUS. Minimal adverse reactions to VR use have been reported in the SSQ, mainly dizziness and nausea.
Conclusions
VR has a high potential to ameliorate the conditions of psychiatry inpatients admitted to a close-doors ward. As with many technological novelties, implementation and sustainability will be key. The small evidence provided by this pilot study points out to an initial good acceptability and potential efficacy in some patient-related outcomes.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:40:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aec301dc15714d92b3f7694b2575e95c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:40:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-aec301dc15714d92b3f7694b2575e95c2023-11-17T05:08:44ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852023-03-0166S901S90210.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.1910Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot studyJ. I. Mena0B. Andrés1I. Hernandez2A. Bastidas3E. Cesari4I. Ochandiano5S. Salmerón6P. Barrio7Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Introduction New technologies have been steadily impacting and redefining the health care landscape over the last decades, a process recently enhanced by the covid-19 pandemics . VR is an advanced media that can simulate highly realistic virtual environments, providing a high sense of immersion (the feeling of “being really there”). VR has expanded its healthcare application over the last years. Surprisingly, the acute psychiatry ward has been, so far, systematically left out of the VR application field. Psychiatric wards are complex environments. Patients are frequently admitted against their will and many wards have a locked doors policy, with subsequent feelings of seclusion experienced by patients. Therefore the question emerges: could VR help psychiatry inpatients have a better experience during their hospitalization? Objectives This is a pilot study where psychiatry inpatients are offered a single session with the Oculus Quest 2, where they are immersed in a computer generate scenario provided by a commercially available software (“Nature Treks”). The scenario is a nature-based immersive 360° walk. Patients are allowed to freely explore the scenario with no time restraints. Methods The STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) questionnaires are completed by patients before and after the VR exposure. After exposure, patients are also asked to complete the SUS (System Usability Scale) questionnaire, the IQ-presence questionnaire and the SSQ (Simulator Sickness Questionnaire). Electrophysiological recordings are gathered with the Empatica E4. Results Up to date, 4 patients have been recruited. The sessions have lasted around 10 minutes. Reductions in the STAI and the PANAS have been reported by 3 patients (with no statistical significance so far). Usability has been extremely high as reported by the SUS. Minimal adverse reactions to VR use have been reported in the SSQ, mainly dizziness and nausea. Conclusions VR has a high potential to ameliorate the conditions of psychiatry inpatients admitted to a close-doors ward. As with many technological novelties, implementation and sustainability will be key. The small evidence provided by this pilot study points out to an initial good acceptability and potential efficacy in some patient-related outcomes. Disclosure of Interest None Declaredhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823019107/type/journal_article |
| spellingShingle | J. I. Mena B. Andrés I. Hernandez A. Bastidas E. Cesari I. Ochandiano S. Salmerón P. Barrio Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot study European Psychiatry |
| title | Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot study |
| title_full | Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot study |
| title_short | Virtual Reality in the acute psychiatry ward: a pilot study |
| title_sort | virtual reality in the acute psychiatry ward a pilot study |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823019107/type/journal_article |
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