{"id":365688,"date":"2022-04-06T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?post_type=selected&p=365688"},"modified":"2022-04-06T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T09:00:00","slug":"virtual-reality-helps-provisioning-psychological-therapy","status":"publish","type":"selected","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/selected\/virtual-reality-helps-provisioning-psychological-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual reality helps provisioning psychological therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the largest ever clinical trial of VR for mental health, published today in\u00a0The Lancet Psychiatry<\/em><\/a>, and funded by\u00a0the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)<\/a>, the automated therapy was shown to work well for patients diagnosed with psychosis. The biggest benefits were experienced by those with the most challenging psychological problems, writes the University of Oxford in this press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0gameChange VR<\/a>\u00a0program was developed by a multi-partner team of university, health and industry experts including Oxford University spin-out: OxfordVR, creators of immersive technology for mental health. It is led by researchers at the University of Oxford and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and targets a problem that is common in people diagnosed with psychosis: intense fears about being outside in everyday situations. For many patients, these fears develop into a severe agoraphobia that means they avoid leaving the home, severely disrupting relationships with family and friends, their education, and careers.\u00a0gameChange\u00a0<\/a>is designed to treat this agoraphobia and help patients re-engage with day-to-day activities. It takes them from a housebound existence to life back in the world outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therapy is overseen and delivered in different settings <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Professor Daniel Freeman, lead researcher, Department of Psychiatry<\/a>, University of Oxford and NIHR Senior Investigator, said: \u2018Virtual reality psychological therapy has come of age with gameChange. Over the past 25 years VR has been used in a small number of specialist mental healthcare clinics. It has supported in-person therapy delivered by a clinician. However, with gameChange, the therapy is built in, so it can be overseen by a range of staff. And it can be delivered in a variety of settings, including patients\u2019 homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018We are delighted that gameChange has produced excellent results for people with some of the most challenging mental health problems. Individuals who were largely housebound have got back outside. Using today\u2019s affordable and easy-to-use consumer VR equipment, we think gameChange will lead a transformation in the digital provision of evidence-based psychological therapy, with deployment at scale for treatments that really work.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reducing distress <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

gameChange led to significant reductions in the avoidance of everyday situations and in distress. However, the patients who benefitted most significantly were those who found it hardest to leave the house, and those with most psychiatric symptoms, such as severe anxiety, depression, delusions, and hallucinations. These patients experienced large benefits \u2013 for example, being able to undertake activities they had previously found unthinkable. These benefits were maintained at the six-month follow-up. Patient feedback showed that the treatment was very popular, with very high up-take rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to effective psychological therapies has been hampered by a shortage of clinicians. The problem is especially acute for people with severe mental health difficulties, such as psychosis. Patients are keen to try psychological interventions, but seldom receive them. Automated VR, with an in-built virtual coach, offers an innovative and effective way out of this impasse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Active therapy <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr Felicity Waite, clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry<\/a>, University of Oxford, said: \u2018The gameChange program provides an engaging, active therapy. In a safe place, patients learn by doing, practising real-life activities such as buying a coffee or getting on a bus, which helps them develop the confidence to take on real-world challenges. Feedback from participants shows that people of all ages really enjoy the gameChange experience. They find it easy to use. And they are often amazed at the progress it has helped them to make.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR i4i Programme Director<\/a>, said:\u00a0\u2018This impressive research exemplifies what NIHR aims to achieve through its i4i funding scheme \u2013 truly transformational technology that can change people\u2019s lives for the better. We\u2019re really excited about the potential for gameChange to bring the benefits of psychological therapy to many more people in their own homes through the medium of virtual reality.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improved self-confidence <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Participants in the gameChange trial commented: \u2018gameChange therapy changed my life. I\u2019m more confident in myself. I\u2019m more confident around other people. I see gameChange helping everyone. I think everyone\u2019s going to be using it.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018If anyone has the opportunity to do the virtual reality treatment, I really would recommend it because it\u2019s made a lot of difference to me. After seven years of illness, I do feel so much better. I\u2019ve been able to make eye contact with people more, without feeling really anxious, I\u2019ve been able to walk down a street without worrying about anyone walking towards me. I\u2019m now able to go into a caf\u00e9. I feel much more confident about going on a bus. I just feel so much more confident than I was.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n

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