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Zhang J, Chen M, Yan J, Wang C, Deng H, Wang J, Gu J, Wang D, Li W, Wang C. Effects of virtual reality-based cue exposure therapy on craving and physiological responses in alcohol-dependent patients-a randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:951. [PMID: 38110900 PMCID: PMC10726483 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05426-z] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cue exposure therapy is used to treat alcohol dependence. However, its effectiveness is controversial due to the limitations of the clinical treatment setting. Virtual reality technology may improve the therapeutic effect. The aim of this study is to explore whether virtual reality-based cue exposure therapy can reduce the psychological craving and physiological responses of patients with alcohol dependence. METHODS Forty-four male alcohol-dependent patients were recruited and divided into the study group (n = 23) and the control group (n = 21) according to a random number table. The control group received only conventional clinical treatment for alcohol dependence. The study group received conventional clinical treatment with the addition of VR cue exposure (treatment). The primary outcome was to assess psychological craving and physiological responses to cues of patients before and after treatment. RESULTS After virtual reality-based cue exposure therapy, the changes in VAS and heart rate before and after cue exposure in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05), while the changes in skin conductance and respiration between the study group and the control group were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The changes in VAS and heart rate before and after cue exposure in the study group were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05), while the changes in skin conductance and respiration were not significantly different from those before treatment (P > 0.05). The changes in VAS, heart rate, skin conductance and respiration before and after cue exposure in the control group were not significantly different from those before treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Virtual reality-based cue exposure therapy can reduce the psychological craving and part of the physiological responses of alcohol-dependent patients during cue exposure in the short term and may be helpful in the treatment of alcohol dependence. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study protocol was registered at the China Clinical Trial Registry on 26/02/2021 ( www.chictr.org.cn ; ChiCTR ID: ChiCTR2100043680).
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
| | - Junli Yan
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
| | - Chaojun Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
| | - Hongdu Deng
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
- Department of Community Health, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Jiali Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
| | - Jiapeng Gu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China.
| | - Chuansheng Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, 207# QianJin Road, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, China.
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