Virtual reality intervention for visual perception in schizophrenia-a single blind pilot randomized controlled trial

Schizophrenia is characterized by both psychiatric symptoms and visual perception disorders. While virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in schizophrenia rehabilitation, its impact on visual perception remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of VR intervention on visual perception in schizophrenia. This pilot randomized, single-blind controlled trial evaluated the effects of a structured non-immersive VR intervention using the Microsoft Kinect system on visual perception in people with schizophrenia, compared to treatment as usual (TAU) alone. The VR group also received TAU. The visual perceptions of all participants were evaluated with the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-3rd Edition (MVPT-3). The interventions were carried out for 45 min, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The study was completed by 53 participants who were divided into two groups. VR group (n = 27, 38.00±10.79 years) and control group (individualized occupational therapy–based psychosocial program) (n = 26, 38.53±8.05 years). There was no difference between the groups in all parameters of MVPT-3 before the interventions (p > 0.05). Following the intervention, a significant improvement was observed across all parameters of the MVPT-3 in both groups (p < 0.001). However, the VR group demonstrated statistically larger effect sizes compared to the control group. In particular, the VR intervention yielded large effect sizes on all MVPT-3 parameters (η²>0.14, p < 0.001), indicating a strong and consistent impact on visual perceptual abilities. The findings from this study provide promising preliminary evidence for the potential effects of non-immersive VR-based interventions in improving visual perception in individuals with schizophrenia. NCT06718556 (12/02/2024).