Journal of International Psychiatry

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and evaluate the clinical efficacy and cognitive function improvement of virtual reality technology in treating patients with depressive disorders. Methods: 118 patients who met the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for depressive disorders were randomly divided into the VR treatment combined with medication group (n=58) and the conventional medication group (n=60) for an 8-week clinical observation. Efficacy and clinical treatment effects were assessed using the Clinical General Index of Effectiveness (CGI- GI) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) at baseline, end of 4 and end of 8 weeks, respectively. The MMCB was assessed at baseline and at the end of 8 weekends to evaluate improvement in cognitive function. Safety was evaluated using the Trial Adverse Substance Scale (TESS). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the general information between the two groups at baseline. the effective rates at the end of 8 weekends were 91.38% and 90.00% in the treatment and control groups, respectively. p=0.676 for comparison of the two groups, which was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores between the two groups at baseline (P>0.05), and the difference between the two groups at the end of the 4th and 8th weekends was statistically significant (t=2.325, P=0.022; t=2.682, P=0.008). There was no statistically significant difference in MCCB scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05), and there was a statistically significant difference in MCCB scores between the two groups after treatment in the four dimensions of attention/alertness, visual learning, social cognition, and total cognition (P<0.05). No serious adverse reactions were seen in both groups, and the incidence of adverse events was not statistically different between groups (X2/Z=0.210, p=0.647). CONCLUSION: VR therapy combined with medication is effective and safe for depressive disorders; it can improve patients cognitive function to a certain extent.