Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36658261›Full record

SynthesisSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2023

Virtual reality relaxation for people with mental health conditions: a systematic review.

Simon Riches, Priyanga Jeyarajaguru, Lawson Taylor, Carolina Fialho, Jordan Little, Lava Ahmed, Aileen O'Brien, Catheleine van Driel, Wim Veling, Lucia Valmaggia

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
45citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
30.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

45 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 98 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Simon RichesDepartment of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF, UK. simon.j.riches@kcl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1427-5561
Priyanga JeyarajaguruDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Lawson TaylorDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Carolina FialhoDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Jordan LittleSouth London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, BR3 3BX, UK.
Lava AhmedSouth London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, BR3 3BX, UK.
Aileen O'BrienSt. George's University of London, London, SW17 ORE, UK.
Catheleine van DrielUniversity Center for Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001 (HPC CC60), 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Wim VelingUniversity Center for Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001 (HPC CC60), 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Lucia ValmaggiaDepartment of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
King's College London · GBSouth London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust · GBUniversity Medical Center Groningen · NLSt George's, University of London · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeVulnerability to stress is linked to poor mental health. Stress management interventions for people with mental health conditions are numerous but they are difficult to implement and have limited effectiveness in this population. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation is an innovative intervention that aims to reduce stress. This review aimed to synthesize evidence of VR relaxation for people with mental health conditions (PROSPERO 269405).

methodsEmbase, Medline, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were searched until 17th September 2021. The review was carried out according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool assessed methodological quality of studies.

resultsSearching identified 4550 studies. Eighteen studies (N = 848) were included in the review. Studies were published between 2008 and 2021. Eleven were conducted in Europe. Thirteen studies were controlled trials. Participants were mostly working-age adult outpatients experiencing anxiety or stress-related conditions. Other conditions included eating disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Five studies tested inpatients. All studies used a range of nature-based virtual environments, such as forests, islands, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and most commonly, beaches to promote relaxation. Studies provided evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term effectiveness of VR relaxation to increase relaxation and reduce stress. EPHPP ratings were 'strong' (N = 11), 'moderate' (N = 4), and 'weak' (N = 3).

conclusionsVR relaxation has potential as a low-intensity intervention to promote relaxation and reduce stress for adults with mental health conditions, especially anxiety and stress-related problems. Further research is warranted on this promising intervention.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersVirtual RealityAdultAnxietyHumansMental HealthPsychotherapyExtended realityPsychiatric conditionsPsychological interventionsStress managementVirtual environmentWellbeing

Identifiers

PMID36658261
PMCPMC9852806
OpenAlexW4317567358

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.