TY  - JOUR
AU  - Nijman, Saskia Anne
AU  - Veling, Wim
AU  - Greaves-Lord, Kirstin
AU  - Vos, Maarten
AU  - Zandee, Catharina Elizabeth Regina
AU  - Aan het Rot, Marije
AU  - Geraets, Chris Neeltje Wil
AU  - Pijnenborg, Gerdina Hendrika Maria
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/8/7
TI  - Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality (DiSCoVR) for People With a Psychotic Disorder: Single-Group Feasibility and Acceptability Study
JO  - JMIR Ment Health
SP  - e17808
VL  - 7
IS  - 8
KW  - social cognition
KW  - virtual reality
KW  - psychotic disorder
KW  - cognitive remediation therapy
KW  - emotion perception
KW  - theory of mind
KW  - social cognition training
AB  - 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. 
SN  - 2368-7959
UR  - https://mental.jmir.org/2020/8/e17808
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/17808
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32763880
DO  - 10.2196/17808
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/17808
ER  -