@Article{info:doi/10.2196/17808,
author="Nijman, Saskia Anne
and Veling, Wim
and Greaves-Lord, Kirstin
and Vos, Maarten
and Zandee, Catharina Elizabeth Regina
and Aan het Rot, Marije
and Geraets, Chris Neeltje Wil
and Pijnenborg, Gerdina Hendrika Maria",
title="Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality (DiSCoVR) for People With a Psychotic Disorder: Single-Group Feasibility and Acceptability Study",
journal="JMIR Ment Health",
year="2020",
month="Aug",
day="7",
volume="7",
number="8",
pages="e17808",
keywords="social cognition; virtual reality; psychotic disorder; cognitive remediation therapy; emotion perception; theory of mind; social cognition training",
abstract="Background: People with a psychotic disorder commonly experience problems in social cognition and functioning. Social cognition training (SCT) improves social cognition, but may inadequately simulate real-life social interactions. Virtual reality (VR) provides a realistic, interactive, customizable, and controllable training environment, which could facilitate the application of skills in daily life. Objective: We developed a 16-session immersive VR SCT (Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality [DiSCoVR]) and conducted a single-group feasibility pilot study. Methods: A total of 22 people with a psychotic disorder and reported problems in social cognition participated. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using a survey for participants and therapists, and by examining relevant parameters (eg, dropouts). We analyzed preliminary treatment effects on social cognition, neurocognition, and psychiatric symptoms. Results: A total of 17 participants completed the study. Participants enjoyed DiSCoVR (mean 7.25, SD 2.05; range 3-10), thought it was useful for daily social activities (mean 7.00, SD 2.05; range 3-10), and enjoyed the combination of VR and a therapist (mean 7.85, SD 2.11; range 3-10). The most frequently mentioned strength of DiSCoVR was the opportunity to practice with personalized social situations (14/20, 70{\%}). A significant improvement of emotion perception was observed (Ekman 60 Faces; t16=--4.79, P<.001, d=--0.67), but no significant change was found in other measures of social cognition, neurocognition, psychiatric symptoms, or self-esteem. Conclusions: DiSCoVR was feasible and acceptable to participants and therapists, and may improve emotion perception. ",
issn="2368-7959",
doi="10.2196/17808",
url="https://mental.jmir.org/2020/8/e17808",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/17808",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32763880"
}