Effectiveness of a programme based on a virtual reality game for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a programme based on a virtual reality game to improve cognitive domains in patients with schizophrenia. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 40 patients with schizophrenia, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. The experimental group received 10 sessions with Nintendo Wii (R) for 5 weeks, 50 minutes/session, 2 days/week in addition to conventional treatment. The control group received conventional treatment only. Results: Statistically significant differences in the T-Score were found in 5 of the 6 cognitive domains assessed: processing speed (F = 12.04, p = 0.001), attention/vigilance (F = 12.75, p = 0.001), working memory (F = 18.86, p <0.01), verbal learning (F = 7.6, p = 0.009), visual learning (F = 3.6, p = 0.064), and reasoning and problem solving (F = 11.08, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Participation in virtual reality interventions aimed at cognitive training have great potential for significant gains in different cognitive domains assessed in patients with schizophrenia. (C) 2015 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.