Effectiveness of virtual reality interventions on anxiety and depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients: A systematic review

Background: End-stage chronic kidney disease affects millions of people worldwide, and its treatment through hemodialysis results in a high rate of depression and anxiety. To address these disorders, virtual reality can be used as a non-pharmacological psychological intervention.

Objective: To describe the effectiveness of virtual reality interventions on depression and anxiety symptoms in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, and PsycInfo databases. Six quantitative studies published between 2019 and 2024 that address the impact of virtual reality on anxiety and depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients were included according to the PRISMA method. A methodical analysis of these studies was performed.

Results: These studies utilize various virtual reality interventions, both immersive and non-immersive, such as “exergaming.” They predominantly report a significant improvement in depression and anxiety scores in hemodialysis patients. The benefit of these studies varies according to the type and duration of the intervention. The main limitations include the small number of available studies and limited sample sizes.

Conclusion: Virtual reality interventions show promising potential for improving anxiety and depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. They can find a place in non-pharmacological management. Large additional studies are needed to better understand their potential benefits and to optimize their handling by patients and caregivers.