This review aims to evaluate the role of Virtual Reality (VR) in cognitive rehabilitation of different neurological diseases, and the accessibility to healthcare systems providing this type of ...treatment.
Studies performed between 2003 and 2017 and fulfilling the selected criteria were found on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Sciences databases. The search combined the terms VR rehabilitation with different neurological disease.
Our findings showed that neurological patients performed significant improvement in many cognitive domains (executive and visual-spatial abilities; speech, attention and memory skills) following the use of VR training.
This review supports the idea that rehabilitation through new VR tools could positively affect neurological patients' outcomes, by boosting motivation and participation so to get a better response to treatment. In particular, VR can be used to enhance the effects of conventional therapies, promoting longer training sessions and a reduction in overall hospitalization time.
To evaluate the efficacy of coping strategies used to reduce burnout syndrome in healthcare workers teams.
We used PubMed and Web of Science, including scientific articles and other studies for ...additional citations. Only 7 of 906 publications have the appropriate inclusion criteria and were selected. A PRISMA 2020 flow diagram was used.
The most common coping strategies that the literature studies showed were efficient, in particular social and emotional support, physical activity, physical self-care, emotional and physical distancing from work. Coping mechanisms associated with less burnout were also physical well-being, clinical variety, setting boundaries, transcendental, passion for one's work, realistic expectations, remembering patients and organizational activities. Furthermore, it was helpful to listen to the team's needs and preferences about some types of training.
We suppose that the appropriate coping strategies employed in the team could be useful also in the prevention of psychological suffering, especially in contexts where working conditions are stressful. Studies about coping strategies to face burnout syndrome in healthcare workers should be increased.
Current research suggests that the management of neurological diseases, both in adults and children, requires an ever increasing commitment of resources for the national healthcare system (NHS). In ...Italy, due to the aging of the population, increase in chronicity and morbidity of pathologies, and presence of islands and rural areas, health needs to be supported by innovative technologies. Telemedicine is a method of providing healthcare services at distance, remotely connecting health professionals and patients (or two professionals). In Italy, telemedicine is under development, and the NHS has not yet exploited and independently developed all the possibilities that telemedicine offers. Tele-rehabilitation consists in the use of information and communication technologies for the remote support of rehabilitation services. By allowing "home care," it represents a valid support during the home rehabilitation process. This review is aimed at evaluating the role of telerehabilitation in Italy, with regard to the motor and cognitive rehabilitation programs applied to neurological pathologies, in both pediatric and adult patients. We screened the studies published between 2010 and 2019 on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. Using the PICO model, the search combined the terms "telerehabilitation"; "neurological disorders"; "neurodegenerative disease," "motor telerehabilitation"; "cognitive rehabilitation." This review showed that telerehabilitation is a promising healthcare tool, as it guarantees continuity of care over time (after discharge) and in space (from hospital to patient's home), especially in patients with stroke. Furthermore, it allows to increase the frequency and intensity of rehabilitation programs, provide individualized rehabilitation treatment in comfortable and familiar environment for patient, monitor and evaluate patients' needs and progress, stimulate patient motivation and achieve better patient satisfaction, verify the results achieved by the patients, and potentially reduce the service costs. Unfortunately, almost all neurorehabilitation studies are characterized by small samples and wide variability of results, and would benefit from standardized procedures, aims and targets. Future telerehabilitation trials should include cost-effectiveness analysis associated with clinical outcomes to better assess the validity of this promising tool.
Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease causing several psychosocial problems that significantly impairs quality of life. The most common physical and mental symptoms ...are anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, and pain. Several studies investigated the effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches in improving psychological well-being. This review focused on the impact of mindfulness interventions in patients with multiple sclerosis to reduce psychopathological symptoms and improve well-being. We searched on PubMed database and screening references of included studies and review articles for additional citations. From initial 107 studies, only 8 met search criteria. Our studies showed the efficacy of mindfulness treatment with a reduction in depressive symptoms, a better quality of life (both mental and physical), and a decreased level of fatigue. Findings demonstrated that mindfulness is useful for the improvement of psychological symptoms and pain management and this improvement has also been shown to have a positive impact on the quality of life and coping and adaptation strategies. However, according to the poor available clinics evidence, on cannot conclude that mindfulness interventions are superior to other active interventions in the treatment of psychological symptoms of SM.
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by different motor, vegetative, behavioral, and cognitive impairments, with worsening quality of life. Virtual reality devices have ...given promising results in neurorehabilitation as they can provide multisensory stimulation in a realistic environment. This study aims to test the efficacy of virtual reality training by using Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment in cognitive impairment in a sample of PD. 31 patients affected by PD were enrolled. All PD patients underwent 24 sessions of Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment training. The participants were assessed at baseline (T0) and after two months (T1). Our results suggested that Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment training may be effective in the cognitive and emotional domains, particularly by improving executive function, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. These changes have helped to improve self-efficacy and coping strategies. These results indicate greater cognitive and physical effort to overcome stressors. Our results show that Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment training was beneficial in improving cognitive functions. Longer duration training may be especially beneficial for patients with mild cognitive impairment. Our findings open the door to tailored personalized treatments based on the patient's motor and cognitive profiles.
Objective
Emergency psychological interventions are needed in patients with COVID-19. During the pandemic, psychological counseling services have been provided using online platforms to address ...adverse psychological impacts and symptoms in patients and the general population. We investigated the effects of telepsychotherapy on emotional well-being and psychological distress in patients affected by COVID-19.
Methods
Forty-five Sicilian patients who had contracted COVID-19 joined “Telecovid Sicilia” from March to June 2020. Participants completed self-assessment questionnaires and psychological testing to measure levels of anxiety, presence of depressive symptoms, and altered circadian rhythm with consequent sleep disorders and psychological distress. Individual telepsychotherapy services were provided for 1 hour, twice a week, for 16 sessions in total.
Results
We enrolled 45 patients (42.2% women). We found significant changes between baseline and the end of follow-up in all outcome measures, especially depression (χ2 (1) = 30.1; effect size ES = 0.82), anxiety (χ2 (1) = 37.4; ES = 0.91), and paranoid ideation (χ2 (1) = 5.6; ES = 0.35). The proportion of participants with sleep disorders decreased to 84.1% after intervention (χ2 (1) = 58.6; ES = 1.14).
Conclusion
A telepsychotherapeutic approach showed promising effects on psychological symptoms, with significantly reduced patient anxiety and depression.
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.
Background and Objectives: Higher level of aggression and antisocial behavior have been found in the period following head trauma. These changes are attributable to specific brain alterations that ...generally involved frontal lobe, insula and limbic system. A descriptive review was conducted on the specificity of aggressive behavior in relation to traumatic brain injury by evaluating numerous variables, focusing on age at the time of trauma and neuroimaging studies. Materials and Methods: We searched on PubMed and the Web of Science databases to screen references of included studies and review articles for additional citations. From an initial 738 publications, only 27 met the search criteria of describing the relationship between aggression, brain alterations and traumatic brain injury. Results: These findings showed that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is related to changes in behavior, personality and mood. Conclusions: The development of aggressive and criminal behavior is associated with multiple factors, including the etiology of injury, environmental, psychosocial and personality factors and age at the time of trauma.
Objective
The purpose of this review is to examine review literature on the psychological effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Methods
Studies were identified by an online search of the PubMed database. ...We selected studies published from January to May 2020 (during the COVID‐19 emergency).
Results
We found that psychological effects of COVID‐19 remain serious among the most of the population, in particular for people with mental disorders, adolescents, healthcare workers, and the general population that experienced high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, with possible long‐term psychological implications.
Conclusion
Findings revealed that living in urban areas, having economic stability, and living with parents were protective factors against anxiety for youth groups, whereas a risk factor was represented by the presence of COVID‐19 infection that involved family members.
The purpose of this review is to examine the psychological effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic. For this reason, we selected articles from January to March 2020 from PubMed database. We focused on the psychological effects of specific population: people with mental disorders, adolescents, healthcare workers, and the general population that experienced high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Findings revealed that living in urban areas, having economic stability, and living with parents were protective factors against anxiety for youth groups, whereas a risk factor was represented by the presence of COVID‐19 infection that involved family members.
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