Exploring the acceptability, and feasibility of a modified virtual reality-based AVATAR therapy in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A case series report.

Autor: Vass E; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary. Electronic address: vass.edit@semmelweis.hu., Gerlinger L; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary., Egervári L; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary., Kilencz T; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary., Csukly G; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary., Hermán L; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary., Réthelyi J; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary., Farkas K; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary., Mariegaard L; VIRTU Research group, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte Hospitalsvej, 3C, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark., Glenthøj LB; Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Gentofte Hospitalsvej, 3C, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark., Simon L; Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1083 Budapest, Balassa str. 6, Hungary.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Acta psychologica [Acta Psychol (Amst)] 2024 Oct; Vol. 250, pp. 104520. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 12.
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104520
Abstrakt: Schizophrenia spectrum disorder poses a complex challenge in psychiatric treatment due to its multifaceted symptomatology. Modified AVATAR therapy, an innovative virtual reality-based intervention integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques such as systematic desensitization, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach offers a promising avenue for addressing auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). This case series report investigates the acceptability and feasibility of a modified AVATAR therapy in three patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder who experience distressing AVH. The study provides detailed demographic and clinical information, outlines the modified AVATAR therapy protocol, and presents outcomes measured through standardized assessments. The findings indicate a decrease in the severity of AVHs, along with enhancements in overall symptomatology after modified AVATAR therapy sessions. Moreover, qualitative perspectives from patients shed light on their favorable experiences and perceptions of this adapted intervention. Nonetheless, the results exhibited inconsistency across individual cases, underscoring challenges for future research and clinical applications in this domain. Nevertheless, in light of the hurdles accompanying the rehabilitation of schizophrenia patients, along with the evaluation and subsequent measurement of parameters affecting efficacy, modified AVATAR therapy could present a valuable addition to schizophrenia patient care.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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