The Virtual Reality Therapy as a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Supporting Method

The Evaluation of the Efficiency of Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy as a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Supporting Method

This study evaluates the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) therapy in the treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms in patients undergoing the pulmonary rehabilitation. The first study group will receive VR therapy (VR group) as an addition to the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation. The second group (active control group) will receive Schultz Autogenic Training as a standard supplement to the pulmonary treatment. The third group (control group) will undergo only the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation leads to the improvement to the physical capacity and overall fitness of the patients with COPD allowing restoration of independence in daily functioning.

Psychological support is required in order to reduce the negative psychological symptoms related to both the pulmonary disease itself and the comorbidities. In this study the investigators want to assess the effectiveness of the virtual reality (VR) therapy compared to standard psychological support (Schultz Autogenic Training).

Thanks to using head mounted display (VR goggles 2018) and the phenomenon of total immersion VR therapy allows to completely separate the patient from the hospital environment, provides an intense visual, auditory and kinesthetic stimulation. Depending on the stage of therapy it can have a calming and mood-improving effect or, in another part of the therapy, it can motivate the patient to the rehabilitation process. The additional aim of the VR therapy is to help the patients regain their emotional balance, let them recognize their psychological resources and trigger the natural recovery mechanisms.

The goals of the project:

1. The evaluation of the influence of VR therapy on the depressive symptoms, the anxiety level and the stress level of the patients undergoing the pulmonary rehabilitation.
2. The comparison of the influence of the VR therapy and Schultz Autogenic Training on the pulmonary rehabilitation process.
3. The evaluation of the pulmonary therapy improvements in patients with and without depressive, anxiety or stress symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• COPD;
• Pulmonary rehabilitation conducted in ward settings;
• anxiety symptoms scored 8 and more in HADS-A or depressive symptoms scored 8 and more in HADS-D.

Exclusion Criteria:

• inability to self-complete the research questionnaires;
• presence of the following issues at the time of the examination or in the medical data: disturbances of consciousness, psychotic symptoms or other serious psychiatric disorders;
• initiation of psychiatric treatment during the research project;
• contraindications for virtual therapy (epilepsy, vertigo, eyesight impairment);
• the patient's refusal at any stage of the research project.