JMIR Publications

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 sixteen-session immersive VR-SCT (Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality, ‘DiSCoVR’) and conducted a feasibility pilot study.

Methods:

Twenty-two people with a psychotic disorder and reported problems in social cognition participated. Feasibility and acceptance were assessed using a survey for participants and therapists, and by examining relevant parameters (e.g., drop-outs). We analyzed preliminary treatment effects on social cognition, neurocognition and psychiatric symptoms. The patient group was also compared at baseline to a matched healthy control group (n=22).

Results:

Seventeen participants completed the study. Participants enjoyed DiSCoVR (M=7.25 out of 10), thought it was helpful for daily social activities (M=7), and enjoyed the combination of VR and a therapist (M=7.85). The most frequently mentioned strength of DiSCoVR was the opportunity to practice with personalized social situations (70%). A significant improvement of emotion perception was found (Ekman 60 Faces; t=-4.79, P<.001), but no significant change was observed 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.