Mood Emot.  2022 Nov;20(3):43-51. 10.35986/me.2022.20.3.43.

Difference in Cognitive Performance in Virtual Reality– Assisted Mental Health Promotion Program According to Groups Clustered Based on Mental Health

• Lim HJ
• Kim K
• Moon E
• Kim DR
• Park JH
• Shin MJ
• Lee YH

• KMID: 2538389
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.35986/me.2022.20.3.43

Abstract

Background
Several studies support the effectiveness and tolerability of virtual reality (VR) interventions in the psychiatric field. This study aimed to examine changes of cognitive performance in VR-assisted mental health promotion programs and to investigate the difference in performance according to clinical characteristics.
Methods
Thirty subjects aged >55 years participated in the study. The clinical characteristics of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, quality of life, and cognition were assessed. Cognitive performance in VR-assisted mental health promotion programs was compared between the clusters classified by clinical characteristics.
Results
Cluster analysis classified the subjects into three groups. In Cluster 1, the Module 3 training score was significantly different before and after VR performance. In Cluster 2, significant differences were observed in the Module 1 training score, the Module 2 training score, the Module 2 defense failure score, and the Module 3 training score. In Cluster 3, a significant difference was observed in the Module 3 training score.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that VR performance might differ according to clinical characteristics. A cognitive training strategy using VR has to be differentially established depending on the characteristics of the community population.

Keyword

Virtual reality; Mental health; Depression; Anxiety; Cognition