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Mancuso V, Sarcinella ED, Bruni F, Arlati S, Di Santo SG, Cavallo M, Cipresso P, Pedroli E. Systematic review of memory assessment in virtual reality: evaluating convergent and divergent validity with traditional neuropsychological measures. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1380575. [PMID: 38818031 PMCID: PMC11137286 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1380575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The evaluation of memory is a crucial aspect of both cognitive research and clinical applications, as it offers valuable insights into an individual's cognitive wellbeing and performance. Conventional neuropsychological assessments represent the established method for assessing different aspects of memory. Recent technological advancements, specifically in the field of virtual reality (VR), have introduced novel methods for evaluating memory. Objective This systematic review aims to examine the current state of memory assessment using VR technologies, assessing the degree of convergence and divergence between VR-based memory assessments and conventional neuropsychological tests. Method A systematic review of the literature was conducted searching PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science databases, leading to the incorporation of 24 studies. Studies were grouped according to the examined memory domain (episodic, prospective, spatial domain). Convergence and divergence validity were examined for each, and information on software and hardware features was collected. Results This review demonstrates a notable alignment between VR-based memory assessments and conventional neuropsychological tests. Moreover, VR tasks have shown to exhibit associations with executive functions and overall cognitive performance. The inclusion of various ecological contexts, such as residential environments, commercial establishments, and simulated scenarios, serves to augment the ecological validity of memory evaluations conducted in VR. Discussion The findings indicate that VR assessments demonstrate a functional perspective by effectively capturing the dynamic relationship between memory, executive functions, and overall cognitive performance. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge and tackle certain constraints that may hinder the widespread adoption and utilization of VR tasks. These limitations encompass factors such as restricted accessibility to VR tasks and the presence of heterogeneity in VR hardware and software. The dynamic and ever-changing nature of VR technology presents a range of potential avenues for future investigation and utilization in the domain of memory evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleonora Diletta Sarcinella
- Department of Psychology, Research Center in Communication Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sara Arlati
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing–STIIMA National Research Council of Italy–CNR, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Marco Cavallo
- Faculty of Psychology, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Pedroli
- Faculty of Psychology, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
- Department of Geriatrics and Cardiovascular Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
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Horan WP, Depp CA, Hurst S, Linthicum J, Vargas G, Klein H, Keefe RSE, Harvey PD. Qualitative Analysis of the Content Validity of the Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT) in Schizophrenia: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2023; 4:sgad012. [PMID: 38026054 PMCID: PMC10664622 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) requires clinical trials targeting cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) to demonstrate the functional relevance of cognitive improvements by employing a functional co-primary measure. Although quantitative evidence supports the suitability of the Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT) for this purpose, FDA guidelines for qualification of clinical outcome assessments require evidence of content validity, defined as qualitative evidence that key stakeholders view the measure as relevant and important. To collect this important qualitative data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with outpatients with schizophrenia (n = 24), caregivers (n = 12), and professional peer support specialists (n = 12) to elicit their views about the definition and importance of functional independence, the importance of the functional domains assessed by the VRFCAT (meal planning, using transportation, handling money, shopping), and the relevance of the VRFCAT tasks to these domains. Qualitative thematic analyses revealed consistent themes across groups in defining functional independence, including performing instrumental self-care, financial, and social tasks; making decisions autonomously; and not depending on others to carry out daily activities. There were, however, notable differences in their views regarding the importance of and barriers to functional independence. All groups viewed the VRFCAT as assessing skill domains that are central to independent functioning and, with some minor differences, the VRFCAT tasks were viewed as relevant and meaningful examples of the domains. These qualitative results provide converging evidence that key stakeholders view the VRFCAT as a content-valid measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P Horan
- WCG Clinical Endpoint Solutions, Cary, NC
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Colin A Depp
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Samantha Hurst
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | | | - Gabriela Vargas
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Research Service Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, Miami, FL
| | - Hans Klein
- WCG Clinical Endpoint Solutions, Cary, NC
| | | | - Philip D Harvey
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Research Service Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, Miami, FL
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Wiebe A, Kannen K, Selaskowski B, Mehren A, Thöne AK, Pramme L, Blumenthal N, Li M, Asché L, Jonas S, Bey K, Schulze M, Steffens M, Pensel MC, Guth M, Rohlfsen F, Ekhlas M, Lügering H, Fileccia H, Pakos J, Lux S, Philipsen A, Braun N. Virtual reality in the diagnostic and therapy for mental disorders: A systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 98:102213. [PMID: 36356351 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) technologies are playing an increasingly important role in the diagnostics and treatment of mental disorders. OBJECTIVE To systematically review the current evidence regarding the use of VR in the diagnostics and treatment of mental disorders. DATA SOURCE Systematic literature searches via PubMed (last literature update: 9th of May 2022) were conducted for the following areas of psychopathology: Specific phobias, panic disorder and agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, dementia disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and addiction disorders. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA To be eligible, studies had to be published in English, to be peer-reviewed, to report original research data, to be VR-related, and to deal with one of the above-mentioned areas of psychopathology. STUDY EVALUATION For each study included, various study characteristics (including interventions and conditions, comparators, major outcomes and study designs) were retrieved and a risk of bias score was calculated based on predefined study quality criteria. RESULTS Across all areas of psychopathology, k = 9315 studies were inspected, of which k = 721 studies met the eligibility criteria. From these studies, 43.97% were considered assessment-related, 55.48% therapy-related, and 0.55% were mixed. The highest research activity was found for VR exposure therapy in anxiety disorders, PTSD and addiction disorders, where the most convincing evidence was found, as well as for cognitive trainings in dementia and social skill trainings in autism spectrum disorder. CONCLUSION While VR exposure therapy will likely find its way successively into regular patient care, there are also many other promising approaches, but most are not yet mature enough for clinical application. REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO register CRD42020188436. FUNDING The review was funded by budgets from the University of Bonn. No third party funding was involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Wiebe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kyra Kannen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benjamin Selaskowski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Aylin Mehren
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Thöne
- School of Child and Adolescent Cognitive Behavior Therapy (AKiP), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lisa Pramme
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nike Blumenthal
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mengtong Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Laura Asché
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stephan Jonas
- Institute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katharina Bey
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marcel Schulze
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Maria Steffens
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Max Christian Pensel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias Guth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Felicia Rohlfsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mogda Ekhlas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helena Lügering
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helena Fileccia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julian Pakos
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Silke Lux
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Niclas Braun
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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