Improving Cognitive Function after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical Trial on the Potential Use of the Semi-Immersive Virtual Reality

• Published in: Behavioural neurology Vol. 2019; no. 2019; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore, Bramanti, Placido, Lo Voi, Emanuele, Sciarrone, Francesca, Cannavò, Antonino, Latella, Desiree, Maresca, Giuseppa, Maggio, Maria Grazia, De Luca, Rosaria, Accorinti, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2019; Hindawi; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Adult; Attention - physiology; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - complications; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - psychology; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - therapy; Clinical trials; Cognition & reasoning; Cognition - physiology; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Cognitive ability; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patients; Rehabilitation; Traumatic brain injury; Virtual Reality; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy - methods
• ISSN: 0953-4180; 1875-8584; 1875-8584
• DOI: 10.1155/2019/9268179

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of long-term disability and death among young adults, and it represents an enormous socioeconomic and healthcare burden. Our purpose is to evaluate the effects of a virtual reality training with BTs-Nirvana (BTs-N) on the recovery of cognitive functions in TBI subjects, using the interactive semi-immersive program. One hundred patients with TBI were enrolled in this study and randomized into either the Traditional Cognitive Rehabilitation Group (TCRG: n=50) or the Virtual Reality Training Group (VRTG: n=50). The VRTG underwent a VRT with BTs-N, whereas the TCRG received a standard cognitive treatment. Each treatment session lasted 60 minutes and was repeated three times a week for 8 weeks. All of the patients were evaluated by a specific psychometric battery before (T0) and immediately (T1) after the end of the training. VRTG and TCRG had a significant improvement in cognitive functioning and in mood, but only VRTG presented with a significant increase in cognitive flexibility and shifting skills and in selective attention. In conclusion, our results suggest that VR may be a useful and effective approach for the rehabilitation of patients with TBI, leading to better cognitive and behavioral outcomes.