TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Fear of falling: efficacy of virtual reality associated with serious games in elderly people
JO  - Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment
A1  - Levy, Fanny
A1  - Leboucher, Pierre
A1  - Rautureau, Gilles
A1  - Komano, Odile
A1  - Millet, Bruno
A1  - Jouvent, Roland
SP  - 877
EP  - 881
VL  - 12
IS  - 
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Fear of falling is defined as an ongoing concern about falling that is not explained by physical examination. Focusing on the psychological dimension of this pathology (phobic reaction to walking), we looked at how virtual reality associated with serious games can be used to treat this pathology. <br><br>METHODS: Participants with fear of falling were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a waiting list. The therapy consisted of 12 weekly sessions of virtual reality exposure therapy associated with serious games. <br><br>RESULTS: Sixteen participants were included. The mean age of the treatment group was 72 years and that of the control group was 69 years. Participants' scores on the fear of falling measure improved after treatment with virtual reality associated with serious games, leading to a significant difference between the two groups. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Virtual reality exposure therapy associated with serious games can be used in the treatment of fear of falling. The two techniques are complementary (top-down and bottom-up processes). To our knowledge, this is the first time that a combination of the two has been assessed. There was a specific effect of this therapy on the phobic reaction. Further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and identify its underlying mechanism.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1176-6328
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S97809
ID  - ref1
ER  -