Articles producció científicaInfermeria

Immersive Virtual Reality in Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Youth with Eating Disorders: A Pilot Study in a Rural Context

  • Dades identificatives

    Identificador:  imarina:9464927
    Autors:  Sarrió-Colas, L; Reverté-Villarroya, S; Castellà-Culvi, AB; Barberà-Roig, D; Gas-Prades, C; Coello-Segura, A; Adell-Lleixà, M
    Resum:
    Technological innovation in immersive virtual reality is fostering the development of novel psychotherapeutic interventions in mental health, particularly benefiting populations with limited access to specialized services. This pilot study explores the feasibility, tolerability, and therapeutic potential of an immersive virtual reality-based psychotherapeutic intervention for adolescents and young people with eating disorders in a rural setting. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was used, with a control group (n = 5) and an experimental group (n = 5), applying weekly immersive virtual reality sessions focused on body perception and food exposure. Preliminary results showed good acceptance and a low incidence of cybersickness. However, a reduction in anxiety levels was observed in the experimental group after immersive virtual reality exposure, particularly in trait anxiety, suggesting a potential effect of the intervention on emotional regulation. While these changes were not statistically significant, the direction and magnitude of the effect warrant further investigation. Changes in body mass index were also noted during the intervention. The remotely guided sessions, conducted via fifth-generation mobile network connectivity, demonstrated technical feasibility and encouraging clinical outcomes, even in geographically isolated or underserved areas. These findings support the use of immersive VR as a complementary tool in the early stages of treatment for eating disorders, contributing to improved body perception and emotional self-regulation. This work not only reinforces the applicability of immersive technology in real-world clinical practice but also opens new avenues for the development of personalized, accessible, and emotionally meaningful intervent
  • Altres:

    Autor segons l'article: Sarrió-Colas, L; Reverté-Villarroya, S; Castellà-Culvi, AB; Barberà-Roig, D; Gas-Prades, C; Coello-Segura, A; Adell-Lleixà, M
    Departament: Infermeria
    Autor/s de la URV: Adell Lleixa, Mireia / Gas Prades, Maria Cinta / Reverté Villarroya, Silvia / SARRIÓ COLAS, LÍDIA
    Paraules clau: Young adults; Rural settings; Remote psychotherapy; Industry, innovation and infrastructure; Immersive virtual reality; Eating disorders; Cybersicknes; Adolescents
    Resum: Technological innovation in immersive virtual reality is fostering the development of novel psychotherapeutic interventions in mental health, particularly benefiting populations with limited access to specialized services. This pilot study explores the feasibility, tolerability, and therapeutic potential of an immersive virtual reality-based psychotherapeutic intervention for adolescents and young people with eating disorders in a rural setting. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was used, with a control group (n = 5) and an experimental group (n = 5), applying weekly immersive virtual reality sessions focused on body perception and food exposure. Preliminary results showed good acceptance and a low incidence of cybersickness. However, a reduction in anxiety levels was observed in the experimental group after immersive virtual reality exposure, particularly in trait anxiety, suggesting a potential effect of the intervention on emotional regulation. While these changes were not statistically significant, the direction and magnitude of the effect warrant further investigation. Changes in body mass index were also noted during the intervention. The remotely guided sessions, conducted via fifth-generation mobile network connectivity, demonstrated technical feasibility and encouraging clinical outcomes, even in geographically isolated or underserved areas. These findings support the use of immersive VR as a complementary tool in the early stages of treatment for eating disorders, contributing to improved body perception and emotional self-regulation. This work not only reinforces the applicability of immersive technology in real-world clinical practice but also opens new avenues for the development of personalized, accessible, and emotionally meaningful interventions in child and adolescent mental health.
    Àrees temàtiques: Química; Process chemistry and technology; Physics, applied; Materials science, multidisciplinary; Materials science (miscellaneous); Materials science (all); Materiais; Instrumentation; General materials science; General engineering; Fluid flow and transfer processes; Engineering, multidisciplinary; Engineering (miscellaneous); Engineering (all); Engenharias ii; Engenharias i; Computer science applications; Ciências biológicas iii; Ciências biológicas ii; Ciências biológicas i; Ciências agrárias i; Ciência de alimentos; Chemistry, multidisciplinary; Biodiversidade; Astronomia / física
    Accès a la llicència d'ús: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Adreça de correu electrònic de l'autor: mireia.adell@urv.cat; silvia.reverte@urv.cat
    Data d'alta del registre: 2026-02-13
    Versió de l'article dipositat: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Enllaç font original: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/16/9013
    URL Document de llicència: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Referència a l'article segons font original: Applied Sciences-Basel. 15 (16): 9013-9013
    Referència de l'ítem segons les normes APA: Sarrió-Colas, L; Reverté-Villarroya, S; Castellà-Culvi, AB; Barberà-Roig, D; Gas-Prades, C; Coello-Segura, A; Adell-Lleixà, M (2025). Immersive Virtual Reality in Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Youth with Eating Disorders: A Pilot Study in a Rural Context. Applied Sciences-Basel, 15(16), 9013-9013. DOI: 10.3390/app15169013
    DOI de l'article: 10.3390/app15169013
    Entitat: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Any de publicació de la revista: 2025-08-15
    Tipus de publicació: Journal Publications
  • Paraules clau:

    Chemistry, Multidisciplinary,Computer Science Applications,Engineering (Miscellaneous),Engineering, Multidisciplinary,Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes,Instrumentation,Materials Science (Miscellaneous),Materials Science, Multidisciplinary,Physics, Applied,Process Chemistry and Technology
    Young adults
    Rural settings
    Remote psychotherapy
    Industry, innovation and infrastructure
    Immersive virtual reality
    Eating disorders
    Cybersicknes
    Adolescents
    Química
    Process chemistry and technology
    Physics, applied
    Materials science, multidisciplinary
    Materials science (miscellaneous)
    Materials science (all)
    Materiais
    Instrumentation
    General materials science
    General engineering
    Fluid flow and transfer processes
    Engineering, multidisciplinary
    Engineering (miscellaneous)
    Engineering (all)
    Engenharias ii
    Engenharias i
    Computer science applications
    Ciências biológicas iii
    Ciências biológicas ii
    Ciências biológicas i
    Ciências agrárias i
    Ciência de alimentos
    Chemistry, multidisciplinary
    Biodiversidade
    Astronomia / física
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