VR-Mediated Cognitive Defusion: A Comparative Study for Managing Negative Thoughts

Kento Shigyo, Yi-Fan Cao, Kentaro Takahira, Mingming Fan, Huamin Qu

Abstract:

The growing prevalence of psychological disorders underscores the critical importance of mental health research in today's society. In psychotherapy, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive exercises employing mental imagery are used to manage negative thoughts. However, the challenge of maintaining vivid imagery diminishes their therapeutic effectiveness.
Virtual reality (VR) offers untapped potential for increasing engagement and therapeutic efficacy.
However, there is still a gap in exploration regarding how to effectively leverage the potential of VR to enhance traditional cognitive exercises with mental imagery. This study investigates the effective HCI design and the comparative efficacy of a VR-mediated exercise for promoting cognitive defusion to address negative thoughts grounded in ACT. Using a co-design approach with clinicians and potential users of postgraduate students, we developed a VR system that materializes negative thoughts into tangible objects. This allows users to visually modify and transpose these objects onto a surface, facilitating mental detachment from negative thoughts.
In an evaluation study with 20 non-clinical participants, divided into VR and mental imagery groups, we assessed the impact of the cognitive defusion exercise on their perception of negative thoughts and psychological measures using standardized questionnaires.
Results show improvement in both groups, with significant enhancements in negative thought perception and mental detachment from negative thoughts exclusively in the VR group, whereas the mental imagery group did not demonstrate significant changes.
Interviews emphasize the VR's capability to present vivid visualizations of negative thoughts effortlessly, highlighting its effectiveness and engagement in psychotherapy to facilitate cognitive exercises.

Primary Subject Area: [Experience] Multimedia Applications

Secondary Subject Area: [Experience] Interactions and Quality of Experience

Relevance To Conference:

This research advances multimedia/multimodal processing by showcasing the therapeutic potential of virtual reality (VR) as a multimodal interface in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). A VR system was developed to transform abstract negative thoughts into tangible, interactable objects, illustrating how VR can enhance cognitive exercises through visual, spatial, and potentially haptic feedback. This approach demonstrates the integration of sensory modalities to improve cognitive therapy outcomes, aligning with multimedia processing principles.

The application of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) design principles to multimodal systems within this context contributes to a deeper understanding of how user-centered design impacts effectiveness and user satisfaction in health-related applications. An empirical evaluation, comparing VR to traditional mental imagery exercises and utilizing standardized questionnaires and interviews, provides evidence of the benefits of multimodal engagement. These findings underscore VR's role in enhancing therapeutic interventions and promoting psychological flexibility.

Submission Number: 4352