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Effect of the adapted virtual reality cognitive training program among Chinese older adults with chronic schizophrenia: a pilot study
- Authors:
- CHAN Christopher L. F., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(6), June 2010, pp.643-649.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
One emerging development in cognitive rehabilitation in recent years is the application of virtual reality (VR) based technologies, used to produce a relatively lifelike situation. This paper examined the effect of an adapted virtual reality cognitive training programme, the Interactive Rehabilitation Exercise System (IREX), in older adults with chronic schizophrenia. Twelve older people with chronic schizophrenia were recruited from a long-stay care setting and were assigned into VR intervention, and a further fifteen assigned to a control group. The intervention group received 10-session of VR programme that consisted of 2 VR activities using IREX. The control group attended the usual programmes in the setting. Findings showed that after the 10-session intervention, older people with chronic schizophrenia preformed significantly better than the control group in overall cognitive function, and in two cognitive subscales – repetition and memory. These participants engaged in the VR activities voluntarily. No instances of cyber-sickness were observed. In conclusion, the authors suggest that the results of the current study indicate that engaging in the adapted virtual reality cognitive training programme offered the potential for significant gains in cognitive function of older people with chronic schizophrenia.