Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Feb 28, 2020
Date Accepted: Nov 11, 2020
Virtual Reality Cognitive Training in Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder Undergoing Residential Treatment: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Alcohol use disorder has been associated with diverse physical and mental morbidities. Among the main consequences of chronic and excessive alcohol use are cognitive and executive deficits. Some of these deficits may be reversed, with improvements in specific cognitive and executive domains, with behavioral approaches consisting in cognitive training. The advent of computer-based interventions may leverage these improvements, but RCTs on the use of digital interactive-based intervention are still scarce.
Objective:
The aim consists in exploring whether a cognitive training approach using virtual reality exercises based on activities of daily living boosts cognitive function in patients with alcohol use disorder undergoing residential treatment.
Methods:
Two-arm randomized controlled trial with a sample of 36 individuals recovering from alcohol use disorder in a therapeutic community assigned to virtual reality-based cognitive training or treatment-as-usual control group. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery of tests was used both at pre and post assessments, including global cognition, executive functions, attention, visual memory and cognitive flexibility.
Results:
In order to control for potential effects of global cognition and executive functions at baseline, these domains were controlled in the statistical analysis for each outcome. Results indicate effects (P < .05) of training on attention (in 2 out of 4 outcomes) and cognitive flexibility (in 2 out of 6 outcomes).
Conclusions:
Overall data suggest specific contributions of reality-based cognitive training in improving attention ability cognitive flexibility of patients recovering from alcohol use disorder. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01942954; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01942954
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