The Effect of Virtual Reality in the Psychoeducation of
Depressive Patients and their Relatives
A randomized controlled trial focusing on the feelings of loneliness in patients
and the perceived burden in relatives.
September 2020 – February 2021
Maastricht University
Date: 27-09-2021
Wordcount: 2584
, VIRTUAL REALITY, PSYCHOEDUCATION, AND DEPRESSION
Abstract
Depressive disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders. Feelings of loneliness
have a great influence on the severity, the worsening, and the maintenance of depressive
disorders. Furthermore, the depressive symptoms have an impact on the daily life
functioning of the relatives and their perceived burden is high. Even though depression has
a large prevalence and causes a major burden for the patient and their relatives, having a
depressive disorder often leads to public stigma and self-stigma. Stigmatization leads to a
decrease in self-esteem and quality of life and an increase in depressive symptoms and
feelings of loneliness. Psychoeducation in the treatment of depressive disorders leads to a
decrease of relapse, care burden, feelings of loneliness, expressed emotion, and emotional
distress. Virtual reality, a relatively new tool for providing psychoeducation, provides a
near-real environment and experience which causes a higher level of immersion, it thereby
helps to stimulate emotions, and it breaks down barriers. This study is going to study
whether adding virtual reality in the psychoeducation of depression has a positive effect
on the feelings of loneliness of patients with a depressive disorder and whether it has a
positive effect on the perceived burden of care of the relatives.
Keywords: Virtual Reality; Depressive Disorder; Psychoeducation; Loneliness; Burden;
2
Depressive Patients and their Relatives
A randomized controlled trial focusing on the feelings of loneliness in patients
and the perceived burden in relatives.
September 2020 – February 2021
Maastricht University
Date: 27-09-2021
Wordcount: 2584
, VIRTUAL REALITY, PSYCHOEDUCATION, AND DEPRESSION
Abstract
Depressive disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders. Feelings of loneliness
have a great influence on the severity, the worsening, and the maintenance of depressive
disorders. Furthermore, the depressive symptoms have an impact on the daily life
functioning of the relatives and their perceived burden is high. Even though depression has
a large prevalence and causes a major burden for the patient and their relatives, having a
depressive disorder often leads to public stigma and self-stigma. Stigmatization leads to a
decrease in self-esteem and quality of life and an increase in depressive symptoms and
feelings of loneliness. Psychoeducation in the treatment of depressive disorders leads to a
decrease of relapse, care burden, feelings of loneliness, expressed emotion, and emotional
distress. Virtual reality, a relatively new tool for providing psychoeducation, provides a
near-real environment and experience which causes a higher level of immersion, it thereby
helps to stimulate emotions, and it breaks down barriers. This study is going to study
whether adding virtual reality in the psychoeducation of depression has a positive effect
on the feelings of loneliness of patients with a depressive disorder and whether it has a
positive effect on the perceived burden of care of the relatives.
Keywords: Virtual Reality; Depressive Disorder; Psychoeducation; Loneliness; Burden;
2
