Previous studies reported that virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy (VRET) was a clinically beneficial intervention for specific phobias. However, among VRET, VR-based graded exposure therapy (VR-GET) is little known about its efficacy on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Therefore, this meta-analysis investigated the effects of VR-GET for PTSD symptoms. A literature search yielded seven randomized controlled trials. The differences between conditions regarding the primary outcome of PTSD symptoms in the effect size of the individual study were calculated using Hedges’ g. The findings showed VR-GET showed a significantly larger effect size for PTSD symptoms (g = 1.100, p = 0.001), compared to controls. However, no significant difference between conventional VRET and controls was found for PTSD symptoms (g = −0.279, p = 0.970). These findings indicated the superiority of VR-GET for PTSD symptoms compared to controls, supporting the importance of immersive PTSD treatments. Nevertheless, the results need to be interpreted with caution due to the substantial number of military service personnel studies. Future trials, considering individually tailored scenarios in virtual environments to cover a wider range of trauma types, are required to investigate its evidence on treating PTSD.

Declines in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) performances due to cognitive impairments hinder mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients’ independent and safe daily lives. In order to prevent and treat this, several cognitive interventions have been implemented, but their ecological validity was not ensured due to that their contents are far from real life. Virtual reality (VR) can resemble real life with immersive stimuli, but there have been few studies confirming its ecological effects on ADL and IADL. Therefore, this study conducted a meta-analysis of VR-based cognitive training to investigate its ecological effects on ADL and IADL in MCI and AD patients. From February 2012 to February 2022, a search was conducted for articles published in PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, and Web of Science. Quality assessment was assessed by the PEDro scale, and the Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess risk of bias. Publication bias was assessed by Egger’s regression. Five studies that met inclusion criteria were included in this study. The VR-based cognitive training showed significant effects on ADL and IADL in both MCI and AD patients. When comparing effects in each group, both MCI and AD patients showed significant effects on ADL and IADL, but MCI patients showed lower effects on ADL and IADL than AD patients. The results indicated that VR-based cognitive training would be beneficial to improve ADL and IADL in MCI and AD patients, suggesting that VR-based cognitive training is ecologically valid.

Background:To date, there is a controversy on effects of cognitive intervention to maintain or improve hippocampal function for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Objective:The main objective of this study was to exam effects of virtual reality-based spatial cognitive training (VR-SCT) using VR on hippocampal function of older adults with MCI.Method:Fifty-six older adults with MCI were randomly allocated to the experimental group (EG) that received the VR-SCT or the waitlist control group (CG) for a total of 24 sessions. To investigate effects of the VR-SCT on spatial cognition and episodic memory, the Weschsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Block Design Test (WAIS-BDT) and the Seoul Verbal Learning Test (SVLT) were used.Results:During the sessions, the training performances gradually increased (p < .001). After the intervention, the EG showed significant greater improvements in the WAIS-BDT (p < .001, η2 = .667) and recall of the SVLT (p < .05, η2 =.094) compared to the CG but in recognition of the SVLT (p > .05, η2 =.001).Conclusion:These results suggest that the VR-SCT might be clinically beneficial to enhance spatial cognition and episodic memory of older adults with MCI.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between non-specific computer training (NCT) and cognition-specific computer training (CCT). Randomized controlled experimental study. Local community welfare center. A total of 78 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were randomly assigned to the NCT (n = 39) or CCT group (n = 39). The NCT group underwent NCT using Nintendo Wii for improving functional performance, while the CCT group underwent CCT using CoTras for improving function of the cognitive domain specifically. Subjects in both groups received 30-minute intervention three times a week for 10 weeks. To identify effects on cognitive function, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) digit span subtests, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Trail Making Test–Part B (TMT-B), Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, and Modified Taylor Complex Figure (MTCF) were used. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the Short-Form 36-item questionnaire. After 10 weeks, the WAIS subtests (digit span forward: 0.48 ± 0.08 vs. 0.12 ± 0.04; digit span backward: 0.46 ± 0.09 vs. 0.11 ± 0.04) and HRQoL (vitality: 9.05 ± 1.17 vs. 2.69 ± 1.67; role-emotional: 8.31 ± 1.20 vs. 4.15 ± 0.71; mental health: 11.62 ± 1.63 vs. 6.95 ± 1.75; bodily pain: 4.21 ± 2.17 vs. 0.10 ± 0.38) were significantly higher in the NCT group (P < 0.05). NCT was superior to CCT for improving cognitive function and HRQoL of elderly adults with MCI.