TY  - JOUR
AU  - Veling, Wim
AU  - Lestestuiver, Bart
AU  - Jongma, Marieke
AU  - Hoenders, H J Rogier
AU  - van Driel, Catheleine
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/1/15
TI  - Virtual Reality Relaxation for Patients With a Psychiatric Disorder: Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e17233
VL  - 23
IS  - 1
KW  - virtual reality
KW  - stress
KW  - relaxation
KW  - negative affect
KW  - positive affect
KW  - depression
KW  - anxiety
KW  - randomized controlled trial
AB  - Background: Virtual reality (VR) relaxation is a promising mental health intervention that may be an effective tool for stress reduction but has hardly been tested in clinical trials with psychiatric patients. We developed an easy-to-use VR self-management relaxation tool (VRelax) with immersive 360° nature videos and interactive animated elements. Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of VR relaxation on negative and positive affective states and short-term effects on perceived stress and symptoms in patients with a psychiatric disorder, compared to standard relaxation exercises. Methods: A randomized crossover trial was conducted in 50 patients receiving ambulatory treatment for anxiety, psychotic, depressive, or bipolar disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to start with VRelax or standard relaxation and used both interventions for 10 days at home. They completed 8 visual analog scales of momentary negative and positive affective states before and after each session. Global perceived stress and psychiatric symptoms were measured before and after both intervention periods. Treatment effects were analyzed with multilevel mixed model regression analyses and 2-way analysis of variance. Results: Both VRelax and standard relaxation exercises led to a statistically significant immediate improvement of all negative and positive affective states. Compared to standard relaxation, VRelax resulted in a significantly greater reduction of total negative affective state (change 16.2% versus 21.2%; t1684=−2.02, 95% CI −18.70 to −0.28; P=.04). Specifically, VRelax had a stronger beneficial effect on momentary anxiety (t1684=−3.24, 95% CI −6.86 to −1.69), sadness (t1684=−2.32, 95% CI −6.51 to −0.55), and cheerfulness (t1684=2.35, 95% CI 0.51 to 5.75). There were no significant differences between short-term effects of the two treatments on global perceived stress and symptoms. Conclusions: If the results of this trial are replicated and extended, VRelax may provide a much-needed, effective, easy-to-use self-management relaxation intervention to enhance psychiatric treatments. Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Register NTR7294; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7096 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - http://www.jmir.org/2021/1/e17233/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/17233
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33448933
DO  - 10.2196/17233
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/17233
ER  -