Use of virtual reality to explore the decision making in obsessive–compulsive disorder and Parkinson’s disease

Technostress: a research study about computer self-efficacy, Internet attitude and computer-anxiety

The current study describes a particular kind of techno-stress related to computer use, defined as computer anxiety and its psychological correlates: computer-expertise, computer self-efficacy and internet attitudes.

Techno-stressed Teachers are responsible for the digital divide? Gender differences in the perceived levels of Computer-anxiety, Computer-expertise, Computer self-efficacy and Internet attitudes of an Italian population

Assessment of Executive Functions in Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by NeuroVR

Executive functions are often impaired in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). We used a Virtual Reality (VR) version of the Multiple Errand Test (MET) inside a virtual supermarket, in order to evaluate the executive functions in daily life in 10 OCD patients and 10 controls. It is performed in a shopping setting where there are items to be bought and information to be obtained. The specific goal of this study was to implement a tool for the assessment of executive functions.

Social network and addiction.

In recent decades, the rapid development of innovative Internet-based communication technologies created a new field of academic study among scholars. Particularly, the attention of researchers is focusing on new ways to form relationship-thought social web. Social Network sites constitute a new form of web communities, where people meet and share interests and activities. Due to exponential growth of these sites, an increasing number of scholars are beginning to study the emergent phenomena in order to identify any psychopathological risk related to use of social web, such as addiction. This article examines the recent literature about this issue. In recent decades, the rapid development o…

Assessment of Executive Functions in Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by NeuroVR

Executive functions are often impaired in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). We used a Virtual Reality (VR) version of the Multiple Errand Test (MET) inside a virtual supermarket, in order to evaluate the executive functions in daily life in 10 OCD patients and 10 controls. It is performed in a shopping setting where there are items to be bought and information to be obtained. The specific goal of this study was to implement a tool for the assessment of executive functions

Influenza delle variabili socio-demografiche sull’uso di internet in un gruppo di pazienti psichiatrici.

Psychometric assessment using classic neuropsychological and virtual reality based test: A study in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenic patients

Assessment of neurocognitive functioning is a critical task in clinical settings. In many disorders, cognitive impairment precedes the onset of behavioral symptoms, and cognitive decline is a major factor contributing to functional disability. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the executive functions by comparing the evaluations obtained using a neuropsychological battery with the one obtained using the virtual reality version of the Multiple Errands Test (V-MET). The study population included three groups: 10 patients affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); 10 Schizophrenic patients; 10 healthy Controls. The results identified executive problems in clinical samples.…

La riabilitazione delle funzioni cognitive dei pazienti schizofrenici attraverso l’uso della realtà virtuale: un’indagine pilota

Schizofrenia e realtà virtuale: una rassegna delle applicazioni cliniche

Aim: The use of virtual reality (VR) in psychotherapy and rehabilitation of psychiatric disorders has become more widespread. The key characteristics of virtual environments for most clinical applications are the enriched experience provided to the patient and the possibility of a high control of the interaction with the tool. This work presents an overview of the scientific papers dealing with current applications of Virtual Reality (VR) in patients with schizophrenia. Method: A search for articles was conducted using PubMed and PsycINFO with a combination of key words including schizophrenia, virtual reality, cybertherapy and rehabilitation. A total of 30 papers were found that discuss li…

A computational approach for the assessment of executive functions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Previous studies on obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) showed impairments in executive domains, particularly in cognitive inhibition. In this perspective, the use of virtual reality showed huge potential in the assessment of executive functions; however, unfortunately, to date, no study on the assessment of these patients took advantage of the use of virtual environments. One of the main problems faced within assessment protocols is the use of a limited number of variables and tools when tailoring a personalized program. The main aim of this study was to provide a heuristic decision tree for the future development of tailored assessment protocols. To this purpose, we conducted a study that…

Use of Robotics kits for the Enhancement of Metacognitive Skills of Mathematics: a Possible Approach.

The present study is aimed at analyzing the process of building and programming robots as a metacognitive tool of mathematics. Quantitative data from a study performed on a sample of students attending an Italian secondary school are described. Results showed that robotics activities may be used as a new metacognitive environment allowing students to improve their attitude towards mathematics, and to increase their attitude to reflect on themselves and on their own learning, and their higher-level control components, such as forecasting, planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises and problems related to implementation.

Cognitive assessment of OCD patients: Neurovr vs neuropsychological test

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Neuro- Virtual Reality as tool for the neuropsychological assessment in OCD patients. We used the neuropsychological battery and a virtual version of the Multiple Errand Test (V-MET), developed using the NeuroVR software, in order to evaluate the executive functions, the ability to plan ahead on complex problem solving tasks in daily life in 30 obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and 30 healthy controls. The results showed the presence of difficulties of OCD patients: lower levels of divided attention and higher levels of errors; higher mean rank of inefficiencies, interpretation failures and rule breaks and longer ti…

Internet addiction e comorbilità psichiatrica

Using robotics construction kits as metacognitive tools: A research in an italian primary school

The present paper is aimed at analyzing the process of building and programming robots as a metacognitive tool. Quantitative data and qualitative observations from a research performed in a sample of children attending an Italian primary school are described in this work. Results showed that robotics activities may be intended as a new metacognitive environment that allows children to monitor themselves and control their learning actions in an autonomous and self-centered way.

Evaluating the feasibility of the Italian version of the computerized interactive remediation of cognition training for schizophrenia (circuits)

Background: Circuits is a computerized cognitive remediation program for individuals with schizophrenia. this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the italian version of circuits. MethODs: Feasibility was measured through ad-hoc questionnaires in a non-clinical sample (N.=30; target-score 70%; study 1); in patients with schizophrenia (N.=5; target-score 60%; study 2) and cr therapists (N.=3; target-score 60%; study 2). study 3 was a pilot study investigating: 1) enrolment, compliance, and retention rates; 2) satisfaction; 3) potential post-treatment and follow-up improvements in patients with schizophrenia (N.=20). these results were used to estimate sample size and feasibility for a …

Study of gender differences in VR response following cardiac surgery.

Cardiac and other invasive surgical procedures cause significant anxiety and stress to patients and their family members. In this study Virtual Reality (VR) was used as a method to reduce stress, anxiety and pain in patients undergoing surgical procedures. This study compared a cohort of patients in the interval prior to and successive to the surgery, differentiating the responses achieved by males and females and comparing the effectiveness. The results are encouraging: they demonstrate the efficacy of VR treatment and the safety of the method and detection of differences in the responses based on gender.

La robotica come strumento per il potenziamento delle abilità cognitive e metacognitive nella scuola

Use of Robotics Kits for the Enhancement of Metacognitive Skills of Mathematics: a Possible Approach

The present study is aimed at analyzing the process of building and programming robots as a metacognitive tool of mathematics. Quantitative data from a research performed in a sample of students attending an Italian secondary school are described. Results showed that robotics activities may be intended as a new metacognitive environment allowing students to improve their attitude in mathematics, and to increase their attitude to reflect on themselves and on their own learning, and their higher-level control components, such as forecasting, planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises and problems related to implementation.

Techno-stressed Teachers Are Responsible for the Digital Divide? Gender differences in the percevied levels of computers-anxiety, computer expertise, computer self-efficacy and internet attitude of an Italian Population

Educational Robotics to develop of executive functions visual spatial abilities, planning and problem solving

Educational robotics is an innovative learning tool that offers students the opportunities to develop higher-order thinking skills. This research aims to verify the effectiveness of educational robotics on the mental processes of planning and problem solving. Robotics education involved in a curricular laboratory (10 meetings, two hours each, once a week) with 15 children, attending their fifth year at primary school. The proposed methodology was divided into three phases: Pre-test, Practice and Post-Test. The main finding was a significant improvement in visuo-spatial attention and a significant effect on robot programming skills. These data provide scientific support to the hypothesis tha…

Computer-expertise, Computer self-efficacy e Internet attitude come fattori che predicono l’ansia da computer. Una ricerca su un gruppo di docenti del territorio palermitano

Neuropsychological Assessment through NeuroVirtual Reality in OCD patients

Assessment of executive functions in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder by NeuroVirtual Reality

Internet Addiction Disorder: uno studio su un campione clinico

Valutazione delle funzioni esecutive in ambienti di Realtà Virtuale (RV): uno studio sui pazienti con Disturbo Ossessivo Compulsivo

Lo studio è volto a valutare l'affidabilità e la validità della Realtà Virtuale come strumento per la valutazione neuropsicologica dei pazienti con Disturbo Ossessivo Compulsivo. Tale obiettivo è stato perseguito attraverso la somministrazione della batteria neuropsicologica e la versione virtuale del Multiple Errand Test (V-MET), sviluppato tramite il software NeuroVR, al fine di valutare le funzioni esecutive e la capacità di pianificazione su compiti complessi in pazienti con Disturbo Ossessivo Compulsivo (DOC) e in soggetti sani. Le performance esaminate, in particolar modo il tempo, l’accuratezza e gli errori nell’esecuzione dei compiti ed il numero delle inefficienze sembrano essere v…

Decision Making and Cognitive Behavioral Flexibility in a OCD Sample: a Study in a Virtual Environment

Neuropsychological disorders are common in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients. Executive functions, verbal fluency and verbal memory, shifting attention from one aspect of stimuli to others, mental flexibility, engaging in executive planning and decision making, are the most involved cognitive domains. We focus on two aspects of neuropsychological function: decision making and cognitive behavioral flexibility, assessed through a virtual version of the Multiple Errand Test (V-MET), developed using the NeuroVR software.Thirty OCD patients were compared with thirty matched control subjects. The results showed the presence of difficulties in OCD patients with tasks where the goal is n…