PhD Scientific Days 2019

Oral presentations: Mental health

Novel Virtual Reality intervention in the treatment of Theory of Mind and pragmatic language impairment in schizophrenia

Előadó neve

Ms. Vass, Edit

Előadó munkahelye

Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County Hospitals and University Teaching Hospital, Jósa András Teaching Hospital, Department of Psychiatry

Előadó telefonszáma

+36 30 360 9164

Előadó e-mail címe

vass.edit84@gmail.com

Az előadás címe

Novel Virtual Reality intervention in the treatment of Theory of Mind and pragmatic language impairment in schizophrenia

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Edit Vass1, Lajos Simon, MD, Ph.D2
1Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County Hospitals and University Teaching Hospital, Jósa András Teachning Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Nyíregyháza
2Semmelweis University, Faculty of Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Budapest

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Szekció

Oral presentations: Mental health

Language of the presentation

Hungarian

Témacsoport

mental health sciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Background: Theory of Mind (ToM) deficit and pragmatic language impairments are associated with poor social functioning in schizophrenia, which usually stays a major obstacle in the way of full recovery despite the successful pharmacotherapeutic amelioration of psychotic symptoms. Since existing psycho-social interventions are usually described by the terms of low adherence and high-burden, and often criticized for the incapability of personalization and unclear theoretical background, alternative strategy is needed.
Aim: Our purpose is to develop a novel intervention, that uses Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and cognitive and behavioral therapy techniques; and assess its feasibility in a two-phase study.
Method: In phase I, VR-based intervention was developed. Throughout review of the literature on ToM and pragmatic language impairment in schizophrenia formed the base of the development. Repeated focus groups, test-interviews and test-simulations were the main methods applied during the development. In phase II, assessment of feasibility of the mentioned intervention became the focus through a randomized controlled trial, with a three-month follow-up. Psychopathology, neurocognition, ToM, pragmatic language impairment and social functioning are assessed in all cases.
Results: Phase I has been already closed. As a result, a targeted VR-simulation based intervention, called VR-ToMIS (VR based ToM Intervention in Schizophrenia) has been developed. Phase II is still in progress. Preliminary experiences hold the promise of the success of this approach. The intervention is well tolerated, and according to the participants' personal reports they found themselves more effective during social interactions after participating in VR-ToMIS.
Conclusion: VR-ToMIS is a targeted ToM intervention, that uses simulated social interactions with different levels of complexity. The intervention is structured, but can be personalized at the same time, which might be the strongest feature of it. Our experience so far indicate, that VR-ToMIS might be an effective tool in the hands of the therapist in the future.

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

4108

Authors (legacy)

Edit Vass1, Lajos Simon, MD, Ph.D2
1Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County Hospitals and University Teaching Hospital, Jósa András Teachning Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Nyíregyháza
2Semmelweis University, Faculty of Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Budapest

Data of the presenter

Doctoral School: Mental Health Sciences School of Ph.D.
Program: Psychiatry
Supervisor: Lajos Simon
E-mail address: vass.edit84@gmail.com