Immersive virtual reality in the treatment of auditory hallucinations: A PRISMA scoping review.

Auditory verbal hallucination Clinical psychology Psychiatry Psychosis Psychotherapy Schizophrenia

Journal

Psychiatry research
ISSN: 1872-7123
Titre abrégé: Psychiatry Res
Pays: Ireland
ID NLM: 7911385

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Apr 2024
Historique:
received: 22 12 2023
revised: 27 02 2024
accepted: 29 02 2024
pubmed: 8 3 2024
medline: 8 3 2024
entrez: 7 3 2024
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

A large group of psychiatric patients suffer from auditory hallucinations (AH) despite relevant treatment regimens. In mental health populations, AH tend to be verbal (AVH) and the content critical or abusive. Trials employing immersive virtual reality (VR) to treat mental health disorders are emerging. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of clinical trials utilizing VR in the treatment of AH and to document knowledge gaps in the literature. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for studies reporting on the use of VR to target AH. 16 papers were included in this PRISMA scoping review (ScR). In most studies VR therapy (VRT) was employed to ameliorate treatment resistant AVH in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Only two studies included patients with a diagnosis of affective disorders. The VRT was carried out with the use of an avatar to represent the patient's most dominant voice. The research field employing VR to treat AH is promising but still in its infancy. Results from larger randomized clinical trials are needed to establish substantial evidence of therapy effectiveness. Additionally, the knowledge base would benefit from more profound qualitative data exploring views of patients and therapists.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
A large group of psychiatric patients suffer from auditory hallucinations (AH) despite relevant treatment regimens. In mental health populations, AH tend to be verbal (AVH) and the content critical or abusive. Trials employing immersive virtual reality (VR) to treat mental health disorders are emerging.
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of clinical trials utilizing VR in the treatment of AH and to document knowledge gaps in the literature.
METHODS METHODS
PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for studies reporting on the use of VR to target AH.
RESULTS RESULTS
16 papers were included in this PRISMA scoping review (ScR). In most studies VR therapy (VRT) was employed to ameliorate treatment resistant AVH in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Only two studies included patients with a diagnosis of affective disorders. The VRT was carried out with the use of an avatar to represent the patient's most dominant voice.
DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS
The research field employing VR to treat AH is promising but still in its infancy. Results from larger randomized clinical trials are needed to establish substantial evidence of therapy effectiveness. Additionally, the knowledge base would benefit from more profound qualitative data exploring views of patients and therapists.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38452499
pii: S0165-1781(24)00119-7
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115834
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article Review

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

115834

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of competing interest None.

Auteurs

Lisa Charlotte Smith (LC)

VIRTU Research Group, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine (DK), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: lisa.smith@regionh.dk.

Ana Collados Mateos (AC)

VIRTU Research Group, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.

Anne Sofie Due (AS)

VIRTU Research Group, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.

Joanna Bergström (J)

Department of Computer Science (DK), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Merete Nordentoft (M)

Department of Clinical Medicine (DK), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Research Unit (CORE), Capital Region (DK), Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lars Clemmensen (L)

VIRTU Research Group, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.

Louise Birkedal Glenthøj (LB)

VIRTU Research Group, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Psychology (DK), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Classifications MeSH