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BACKGROUND: People with a psychotic disorder commonly experience problems in social cognition and functioning. Social cognition training (SCT) improves social cognition, but may inadequately simulate real-life social interactions. Virtual reality (VR) provides a realistic, interactive, customizable, and controllable training environment, which could facilitate the application of skills in daily life. OBJECTIVE: We developed a 16-session immersive VR SCT (Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality DiSCoVR) and conducted a single-group feasibility pilot study. METHODS: A total of 22 people with a psychotic disorder and reported problems in social cognition participated. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using a survey for participants and therapists, and by examining relevant parameters (eg, dropouts). We analyzed preliminary treatment effects on social cognition, neurocognition, and psychiatric symptoms. RESULTS: =-4.79, P<.001, d=-0.67), but no significant change was found in other measures of social cognition, neurocognition, psychiatric symptoms, or self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: DiSCoVR was feasible and acceptable to participants and therapists, and may improve emotion perception.
Nijman et al. (Fri,) studied this question.