Integrating a virtual reality relaxation clinic within acute psychiatric services: A pilot study.
Cyberpsychology
Digital mental health
Extended reality
Healthtech
Immersive technology
Inpatient
Internet interventions
Mental health
Mixed methods [20]
Outpatient
Personality disorders
Psychological interventions
Psychosis
Restrictive practices
Stress management
VR
Violence and aggression
Virtual environments
Wellbeing
XR
Journal
Psychiatry research
ISSN: 1872-7123
Titre abrégé: Psychiatry Res
Pays: Ireland
ID NLM: 7911385
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 2023
11 2023
Historique:
received:
18
05
2023
revised:
06
09
2023
accepted:
09
09
2023
medline:
3
11
2023
pubmed:
7
10
2023
entrez:
6
10
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
People with acute psychiatric conditions experience heightened stress, which is associated with worsened symptoms and increased violence on psychiatric wards. Traditional stress management techniques can be challenging for patients. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation appears promising to reduce stress; however, research on VR for psychiatric wards is limited. This mixed-methods study investigated feasibility and acceptability of integrating a VR relaxation clinic within acute psychiatric services. The study evaluated a VR relaxation session for inpatients and outpatients with acute psychiatric conditions (N = 42) and therapists' (N = 6) experience facilitating VR sessions for patients. Self-report assessments of psychological wellbeing were completed by patients pre- and post-VR. Patients and therapists provided qualitative feedback. The number of violent incidents and restrictive practices on the wards in the 12 weeks before VR implementation was compared to the first 12 weeks of VR. Post-VR, there were statistically significant increases in patients' relaxation, happiness, and connectedness to nature, and decreases in stress, anxiety, and sadness. Qualitative findings indicate patients found sessions enjoyable, relaxing, and helpful. Therapists provided positive feedback but highlighted practical challenges. Violent incidents and restrictive practices halved during VR implementation. VR relaxation appears feasible and acceptable in acute services. Larger studies should evaluate potential impact on psychiatric wards.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37802013
pii: S0165-1781(23)00427-4
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115477
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
115477Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest Wim Veling is cofounder of VRelax BV, the company that has developed the VR application in collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen, and holds shares in VRelax BV. To address this competing interest, Wim Veling had an advisory role in study design and was not involved in data collection or data analysis. Some of the co-authors were also therapist participants in the study, which will have impacted on the reporting of the findings. There are no other conflicts of interest.