Zhang Min, Wang Erping, Shan Hua, Zhu Suijun
Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Linping District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Linping District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2025 Jul 21;21:1455-1468. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S525279. eCollection 2025.
Virtual reality technology, as an emerging intervention method, has garnered widespread attention in recent years for the rehabilitation of cognitive and psychological functions in patients with brain injuries. However, systematic evidence regarding its efficacy remains inconsistent. This study aims to evaluate the comprehensive effects of VR intervention in improving cognitive function, alleviating depressive symptoms, and enhancing self-efficacy in patients with brain injuries through a meta-analysis.
This study conducted literature search and screening in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search databases included PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley Library, and OVID. Randomised controlled trials and observational studies were included, and the assessment metrics included MoCA, FAB, WEIGL Test, TMT-BA, HRS-D, and self-efficacy scores. The pooled analysis of effect sizes was performed using RevMan 5.4, with the I² statistic employed to assess heterogeneity. Either a fixed-effect or random-effects model was selected based on the observed heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias testing were subsequently conducted.
This Meta-analysis synthesised nine studies with a total of 279 brain-injured patients to assess the effect of virtual reality intervention. The experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in MoCA scores compared to the control group (P < 0.00001). FAB score analysis also showed a statistically significant improvement (P = 0.0007). The results of the combined analysis of the WEIGL Test scores combined analysis showed a mean difference of 2.39 (P < 0.00001), and a decrease in HRS-D scores also indicated that the VR intervention may be beneficial in alleviating depressive symptoms (P = 0.02). However, improvements in TMT-BA scores (P = 0.10) and self-efficacy scores (P = 0.43) did not reach statistical significance.
The VR intervention demonstrated potential benefits in improving cognitive functioning and alleviating depressive symptoms in brain-injured patients, but the effect on self-efficacy was not significant. Although some studies showed high heterogeneity, the overall results support the value of VR in brain injury rehabilitation.
虚拟现实技术作为一种新兴的干预方法，近年来在脑损伤患者认知和心理功能康复方面受到广泛关注。然而，关于其疗效的系统证据仍不一致。本研究旨在通过荟萃分析评估虚拟现实干预对改善脑损伤患者认知功能、减轻抑郁症状和提高自我效能的综合效果。
本研究按照PRISMA指南进行文献检索和筛选。文献检索数据库包括PubMed、Web of Science、Wiley Library和OVID。纳入随机对照试验和观察性研究，评估指标包括蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）、额叶评估量表（FAB）、韦氏成人智力量表（WEIGL Test）、连线测验B-A（TMT-BA）、汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HRS-D）和自我效能得分。使用RevMan 5.4进行效应量的合并分析，采用I²统计量评估异质性。根据观察到的异质性选择固定效应模型或随机效应模型。随后进行敏感性分析和发表偏倚检验。
本荟萃分析综合了9项研究，共279例脑损伤患者，以评估虚拟现实干预的效果。与对照组相比，实验组MoCA得分有统计学显著改善（P < 0.00001）。FAB得分分析也显示有统计学显著改善（P = 0.0007）。WEIGL Test得分合并分析结果显示平均差值为2.39（P < 0.00001），HRS-D得分降低也表明虚拟现实干预可能有助于减轻抑郁症状（P = 0.02）。然而，TMT-BA得分（P = 0.10）和自我效能得分（P = 0.43）的改善未达到统计学显著水平。
虚拟现实干预在改善脑损伤患者认知功能和减轻抑郁症状方面显示出潜在益处，但对自我效能的影响不显著。尽管一些研究显示异质性较高，但总体结果支持虚拟现实在脑损伤康复中的价值。
