1
|
Mavrogiorgou P, Böhme P, Kramer M, Vanscheidt S, Schoppa T, Hooge V, Lüdike N, Pfeiffer T, Juckel G. [Virtual reality in teaching using mentally ill patient avatars]. DER NERVENARZT 2024; 95:247-253. [PMID: 38277046 PMCID: PMC10914873 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-024-01610-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical interaction and exploration techniques are the most important tools that medical students have to acquire in the subject of psychiatry and psychotherapy. The new digital technologies currently available, such as virtual reality (VR), as important supplements can contribute to a significant improvement in the teaching of psychiatric-psychopathological learning content as well as, in particular, the technique of ascertaining the psychiatric history and diagnosis. OBJECTIVE Evaluation of the Bochum Avatar Exploration Project (AVEX) as part of the curricular course in medical studies at the Ruhr University Bochum for its possibilities to convey learning content and techniques of anamnesis and diagnosis in the subject of psychiatry and psychotherapy. METHODS In AVEX, a total of 87 medical students in the clinical study section have so far been able to enter into a dialogue with "mentally ill" avatars and gain experience with VR technology as a learning and teaching method in the subject of psychiatry and psychotherapy. RESULTS Despite the limited possibilities for interaction with the digital avatars, it is possible to achieve a substantial transfer of learning content in psychiatry; however, the students must be well supported by the lecturers. CONCLUSION The AVEX project already shows promising possibilities for supplementing the teaching of medical students, even if the fit of questions and replies in dialogue with the virtual avatars still needs to be improved. As advances in the linguistic communication of emotions and the visual effects of the avatar representation can be predicted, the significance of this technology will continue to increase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Mavrogiorgou
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin, LWL-Universitätsklinikum, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Pierre Böhme
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin, LWL-Universitätsklinikum, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Marco Kramer
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin, LWL-Universitätsklinikum, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Simon Vanscheidt
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin, LWL-Universitätsklinikum, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Schoppa
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin, LWL-Universitätsklinikum, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Vitalij Hooge
- Raumtänzer GmbH, Nickelstr. 21, 33378, Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Deutschland
| | - Nico Lüdike
- Raumtänzer GmbH, Nickelstr. 21, 33378, Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Deutschland
| | - Thies Pfeiffer
- Raumtänzer GmbH, Nickelstr. 21, 33378, Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Deutschland
| | - Georg Juckel
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin, LWL-Universitätsklinikum, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lütt A, Tsamitros N, Wolbers T, Rosenthal A, Bröcker AL, Schöneck R, Bermpohl F, Heinz A, Beck A, Gutwinski S. An explorative single-arm clinical study to assess craving in patients with alcohol use disorder using Virtual Reality exposure (CRAVE)-study protocol. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:839. [PMID: 37964300 PMCID: PMC10647047 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05346-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) belongs to the most burdensome clinical disorders worldwide. Current treatment approaches yield unsatisfactory long-term effects with relapse rates up to 85%. Craving for alcohol is a major predictor for relapse and can be intentionally induced via cue exposure in real life as well as in Virtual Reality (VR). The induction and habituation of craving via conditioned cues as well as extinction learning is used in Cue Exposure Therapy (CET), a long-known but rarely used strategy in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) of AUD. VR scenarios with alcohol related cues offer several advantages over real life scenarios and are within the focus of current efforts to develop new treatment options. As a first step, we aim to analyze if the VR scenarios elicit a transient change in craving levels and if this is measurable via subjective and psychophysiological parameters. METHODS A single-arm clinical study will be conducted including n = 60 patients with AUD. Data on severity of AUD and craving, comorbidities, demographics, side effects and the feeling of presence in VR will be assessed. Patients will use a head-mounted display (HMD) to immerse themselves into three different scenarios (neutral vs. two target situations: a living room and a bar) while heart rate, heart rate variability, pupillometry and electrodermal activity will be measured continuously. Subjective craving levels will be assessed before, during and after the VR session. DISCUSSION Results of this study will yield insight into the induction of alcohol craving in VR cue exposure paradigms and its measurement via subjective and psychophysiological parameters. This might be an important step in the development of innovative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of patients with AUD. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was approved by the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institutional Review Board (EA1/190/22, 23.05.2023). It was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05861843).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Lütt
- Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - N Tsamitros
- Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, 10115, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - T Wolbers
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - A Rosenthal
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - A L Bröcker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - R Schöneck
- Salus Clinic Lindow, 16835, Lindow, Germany
| | - F Bermpohl
- Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, 10115, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Heinz
- Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, 10115, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Beck
- Faculty of Health, Health and Medical University, 14471, Potsdam, Germany
| | - S Gutwinski
- Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, 10115, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|