Shannen Kyte, Danielle Bukovsky, Jianmeng Song, Helen Shewchuk, Fumihiko Ueno, Edgardo Carmona-Torres, George Foussias, Sri Mahavir Agarwal, Antonio Strafella, Gary Remington, Ariel Graff-Guerrero, Philip Gerretsen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and hypothesis: Auditory hallucinations (AHs) are debilitating symptoms of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) associated with several negative outcomes. AHs are often resistant to existing pharmacological and psychological interventions. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising intervention for AHs. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of VR interventions in treating AHs in SSDs.
Study design: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on Embase, APA PsycINFO, and MEDLINE via the Ovid Database. Studies with a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or randomized cross-over trial design that had treatment and active or treatment-as-usual control conditions were included. Random-effects meta-analyses compared the change in the primary outcome of AH severity from baseline to post-treatment and at follow-up between the groups.
Study results: Eight studies (n = 1004) met the criteria for the meta-analyses. Eight studies used avatar therapy (AT), and 1 study used a VR-based mindfulness intervention. Random-effects meta-analyses found that VR interventions were more effective than the control conditions in reducing AH severity immediately post-intervention (Hedges' g = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.62, -0.20], P < .01) and at follow-up (Hedges' g = -0.28, 95% CI [-0.40, -0.17], P < .001).
Conclusion: This review was limited by a small sample size, study heterogeneity, and intervention homogeneity. Future research should prioritize larger RCTs of VR-based interventions for psychosis before VR can be reliably used in clinical settings. Overall, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that VR-based AT may be a promising avenue to improve AHs in SSDs.
期刊介绍：
Schizophrenia Bulletin seeks to review recent developments and empirically based hypotheses regarding the etiology and treatment of schizophrenia. We view the field as broad and deep, and will publish new knowledge ranging from the molecular basis to social and cultural factors. We will give new emphasis to translational reports which simultaneously highlight basic neurobiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations. Some of the Bulletin content is invited as special features or manuscripts organized as a theme by special guest editors. Most pages of the Bulletin are devoted to unsolicited manuscripts of high quality that report original data or where we can provide a special venue for a major study or workshop report. Supplement issues are sometimes provided for manuscripts reporting from a recent conference.
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