Ecological virtual reality-based cognitive remediation among inpatients with schizophrenia: A pilot study

Schizophrenia presents a considerable clinical challenge due to limited progress in promoting daily-life functioning among diagnosed individuals. Although cognitive remediation (CR) has emerged as a promising approach to improving cognitive and functional outcomes in schizophrenia, its effectiveness among inpatients and within hospital environments—where opportunities to practice skills in real-world contexts are limited—remains unclear. Here, we aimed to establish the feasibility and initial efficacy of a short, ecological virtual reality-based CR training (CR-EVR) in acute mental health inpatient settings. Efficacy was assessed at four levels: training engagement, near transfer, far transfer, and ecological transfer. Twenty-three inpatients with schizophrenia (Male: 33.3 ± 8.5; 4 Female) completed 8, 20-min CR-EVR sessions, with exercises training the cognitive abilities of inhibition, planning, working memory, shifting, self-initiation, persistence, and attention. Their cognitive functioning, schizophrenia symptoms, functional capacity, and participation in occupations were evaluated pre- and post-training to address four levels of effectiveness. Of the recruited participants, 25.8 % dropped out. Inpatients who completed the full protocol reported high rates of satisfaction (1-not satisfied; 5-very satisfied)) from the intervention (Median = 4, IQR:3.5–5). Post-training, significant improvements were found in the trained cognitive components (intervention engagement: −6.58 < t/Z < 2.02, p < .05), general cognitive functioning (−2.59 < t/Z < 2.29, p < .05), functional capacity (t = −2.9, p < .05), and diversity of participation in everyday activities (t = −3.36, p < .05). This preliminary study suggests that CR-EVR may be a feasible and practical tool to enhance cognitive and ecological outcomes in short-stay acute inpatient settings. Subject to further research, such intervention may be considered an add-on to current practices that promote recovery and health among inpatient populations.