Virtual Therapy as a Method Supporting Treatment of Late-Life Depression

Immersive Virtual Therapy as a Method Supporting the Non-Farmacological Treatment of Late-Life Depression

This study evaluates the addition of virtual therapy intervention in the treatment of depression in the elderly. Half of the participants will receive virtual reality treatment as an addition to physical exercises and psychoeducation, while the other half will receive physical exercises and psychoeducation alone.

Depressive disorders are frequent and can either first be manifested at a younger age and recurrent during later life or have an onset beyond 60 years (late-life depression). The multifactorial genesis of depression in old age includes psychosocial, vascular and metabolic factors and requires multimodal and multi-professional therapy including physical activity and psychosocial interventions. However, there is still a percentage of older people who do not show improvement in depressive symptoms.

In recent years, various types of virtual reality are gaining in popularity, primarily because of the availability and ease of use. A systematic review from 2018 concluded that VR treatment had moderate to large effects in anxiety and depression, compared to controls and it could be another effective choice available to clinicians and patients.

Therefore, the aim of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual therapy in the elderly, in whom the previous multimodal therapeutic program has not brought the expected results.

Inclusion Criteria:

• GDS≥10 or HADS-A≥8 or HADS-D≥8

Exclusion Criteria:

• cognitive impairment (MMSE<24) or aphasia and a serious loss of sight or hearing that makes it impossible to assess cognitive functions based on MMSE;
• contraindications for virtual therapy (epilepsy, vertigo, eyesight impairment);
• substance abuse;
• participation in another therapeutic project or individual psychotherapy;
• antidepressant treatment;