Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

No. 1 (2024)

ORIRGINAL RESEARCH

Virtual Reality for Relaxation: Types and Factors of Efficiency

https://doi.org/10.21265/PSYPH.2024.27.29.004

Published 2024-03-30

  • T.А. Lepilkina
    • ,
  • A.G. Beniashvili
    • ,
  • A.V. Starodubova
    • ,
  • R.A. Cheremin
    • ,
  • N.G. Malyukova
    • ,
  • N.N. Shaposhnikova
    • ,
  • M.A. Bogdanov
    • ,
  • S.V. Rodkina

T.А. Lepilkina
Mental Health Research Center

A.G. Beniashvili
Mental Health Research Center

A.V. Starodubova
Federal research Centre of Nutrition and Biotechnology

R.A. Cheremin
Speech Pathology and Neurorehabilitation Center

N.G. Malyukova
Speech Pathology and Neurorehabilitation Center

N.N. Shaposhnikova
Federal research Centre of Nutrition and Biotechnology

M.A. Bogdanov
Speech Pathology and Neurorehabilitation Center

S.V. Rodkina
Speech Pathology and Neurorehabilitation Center

Abstract

Background. Although there is an increasing number of studies exploring virtual reality (VR) tools for relaxation in practice, there is a shortage of methodological and theoretical guidelines for the development of such programs and a gap in understanding of the mechanisms of their effectiveness in general.
Aims: (i) to consider the psychological mechanisms of VR relaxation and describe factors of the virtual environment and scenario that contribute to its effectiveness, and (ii) to study the effectiveness of a short-term course of VR relaxation based on the indicated methodological premises concerning anxiety, asthenia and other parameters of well-being in three groups of patients and healthy participants as compared to the control group.
Methods. (i) The key psychological mechanism of therapeutic VR and subtypes of VR instruments based on it are identified. The factors of relaxation efficiency in VR that were implemented in developing the Flow application are analyzed and specified. (ii) The course of five daily relaxation sessions in VR was attended by patients of the somatic hospital (group 1), patients diagnosed with obesity (2) and healthy subjects (3) (123 people in total); 20 patients of the somatic hospital were included into the control group (4). State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; the Fatigue Symptom Rating Scale; the Well-being, Activity, Mood questionnaire; and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale were used as the assessment scales. Statistical methods were used.
Results. The main types of VR applications for relaxation are described, as well as the factors of their effectiveness, such as specific characteristics of the VR environment and the scenario that promotes relaxation. In the empirical part of the study, the data of 143 participants were analyzed. Positive changes have been noted after the completion of the first VR session, the whole course of VR therapy and a few days after the course in all experimental groups, whereas the condition of patients did not change in the control group.
Conclusion. Described application for VR relaxation is a promising tool for somatic patients and healthy users, showing signs of anxiety and asthenia.

Keywords

virtual reality methodology, inpatient treatment, obesity, comorbid mental symptoms, nonpharmacological therapy

PDF (Русский) PDF

References

  1. Riches S., Azevedo L., Bird L. et al. Virtual reality relaxation for the general population: a systematic review // Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. – 2021. – Vol. 56. – Pp. 1707– 1727. – https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02110-z
  2. Riches S., Jeyarajaguru P., Taylor L. et al. Virtual reality relaxation for people with mental health conditions: a systematic review // Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. – 2023. – Vol. 58. – Pp. 989–1007. – https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02417-5
  3. Lepilkina T.A., Beniashvili А.G., Cheremin R.А. et al. Efficacy of a relaxation scenario in virtual reality for comorbid symptoms of anxiety and asthenia in a general hospital setting: a pilot comparative randomized open-label study // Consortium Psychiatricum. – 2023. – Vol. 4 (1). – Pp. 38–51. – https://doi.org/10.17816/CP221
  4. Ханин Л.Ю. Краткое руководство к шкале реактивной и личностной тревожности Ч.Д. Спилбергера. – Ленинград: ЛНИИФК. – 1976. – 18 c.
  5. Fisk J.D., Doble S.E. Construction and validation of a fatigue impact scale for daily administration (D-FIS) // Qual Life Res. – 2002. – Vol. 11 (3). – Pp. 263–272. – https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1015295106602
  6. Бурлачук Л.Ф., Морозов С.М. Словарь-справочник по психодиагностике. Изд. 2-е, перераб. и доп. – СПб.: Питер, 2003. – 528 с.
  7. Lovibond S.H., Lovibond P.F. Manual for the depression anxiety stress scales. 2nd ed. – Sydney: Psychology Foundation of Australia. – 1995. – 42 p.
  8. Акмеологический словарь. Изд. 2-е / под общ. ред. А.А. Деркача. – М.: Изд-во РАГС, 2005. – 161 с.
  9. Николаева В.В. О психологической природе алекситимии // Телесность человека: междисциплинарные исследования: сб. ст. – М.: Филос. о-во СССР, 1991. – 159 с. – С. 84–93.
  10. Дикая Л.Г. Психология саморегуляции функционального состояния субъекта в экстремальных условиях деятельности. Дис. д-ра психол. наук. – М., 2002. – 341 с.
  11. Li H., Zhang X., Wang H. et al. Access to Nature via Virtual Reality: A Mini-Review // Front. Psychol. – 2021. – Vol. 12. – Art. 725288. – https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.725288
  12. Spiegel B., Fuller G., Lopez M. et al. Virtual reality for management of pain in hospitalized patients: A randomized comparative effectiveness trial // PLoS ONE. – 2019. – Vol. 14 (8). – e0219115. – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219115
  13. Dascal J., Reid M., IsHak W.W. et al. Virtual Reality and Medical Inpatients: A Systematic Review of Randomized, Controlled Trials // Innov Clin Neurosci. – 2017. – Vol. 1, no. 4 (1-2). – Pp. 14–21. PMID: 28386517; PMCID: PMC5373791
  14. Ridout B., Kelson J., Campbell A., Steinbeck K. Effectiveness of virtual reality interventions for adolescent patients in hospital settings: systematic review // J Med Internet Res. – 2021. – Vol. 23 (6). – e24967. – https://doi.org/10.2196/24967
  15. Martin J.L., Saredakis D., Hutchinson A.D. et al. Virtual reality in palliative care: A systematic review // Healthcare. – 2022. – Vol. 10 (7). – Art. 1222. – https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10071222
  16. Butler R.M., Heimberg R.G. Exposure therapy for eating disorders: A systematic review // Clinical Psychology Review. – 2020. – Vol. 78. – Art. 101851. – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101851
  17. Al-Rasheed A., Alabdulkreem E., Alduailij M. et al. Virtual reality in the treatment of patients with overweight and obesity: A systematic review // Sustainability. – 2022. – Vol. 14 (6). – Art. 3324. – https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063324
  18. Tarrant J., Jackson R., Viczko J.A. Feasibility test of a brief mobile virtual reality meditation for frontline healthcare workers in a hospital setting // Front Virtual Real. – 2022. – Vol. 3. – Art. 764745. – https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2022.764745
  19. Li H., Zhang X., Wang H. et al. Access to nature via virtual reality: a mini-review // Front Psychol. – 2021. – Vol. 12. – Art. 725288. – https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.725288
  20. Spano G., Theodorou A., Reese G. et al. Virtual nature and psychological outcomes: A systematic review // Journal of Environmental Psychology. – 2023. – Art. 102044. – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102044
  21. Sona B., Dietl E., Steidle A. Recovery in sensory-enriched break environments: Integrating vision, sound and scent into simulated indoor and outdoor environments // Ergonomics. – 2019. – Vol. 6 (4). – Pp. 521–536. – https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2018.1491643
  22. Келлерман П.Ф. Психодрама крупным планом: анализ терапевтических механизмов / пер. с англ. И.А. Лаврентьевой. – М.: Независимая фирма «Класс», 1998. – 240 с.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.