Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition that can significantly impair an individual's quality of life. While traditional exposure-based therapies have shown promise, there is a growing interest in the use of virtual reality (VR) to enhance the effectiveness of OCD treatment. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a VR-based intervention on OCD symptom severity, associated mental health outcomes, and underlying neural correlates.
Methods: Thirty individuals diagnosed with OCD were recruited for this study. Participants engaged in a series of VR-based exposure therapy sessions, during which their brain activity was continuously monitored using a 32-channel EEG system. The primary outcome measure was the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and secondary measures included assessments of anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Data was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and correlational analyses.
Results: The VR-based intervention resulted in a significant reduction in OCD symptom severity, as measured by the Y-BOCS, from baseline to post-treatment, and these improvements were maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Participants also reported significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and quality of life. The EEG data analysis revealed increased alpha and beta power in the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, brain regions associated with cognitive control and emotional regulation, which were positively correlated with the degree of clinical improvement.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the efficacy of VR-based therapy in the treatment of OCD and suggests that this approach may lead to measurable changes in brain function that are linked to positive clinical outcomes. The involvement of bachelor's degree students in the research process highlights the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing the field of mental health treatment.