Next Article in Journal
Impact of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant on Safety and Outcomes of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell (CAR-T) Therapy in Patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM)
Next Article in Special Issue
Adaptive Hyperactivity and Biomarker Exploration: Insights from Elders in the Blue Zone of Sardinia
Previous Article in Journal
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Pancreatic Surgery: The Surgeon’s Point of View
Previous Article in Special Issue
Prevalence and Risk by Age and Sex of Sleep Dysregulation and Depressive Episodes in Bipolar and Depressive Disorders in a Community Survey in Sardinia, Italy
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
JCM
Volume 13
Issue 20
10.3390/jcm13206206
jcm-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Alexithymia and Bipolar Disorder: Virtual Reality Could Be a Useful Tool for the Treatment and Prevention of These Conditions in People with a Physical Comorbidity

by
Federica Sancassiani
1,
Alessandra Perra
1,*,
Alessia Galetti
1,
Lorenzo Di Natale
2,3,
Valerio De Lorenzo
3,4,
Stefano Lorrai
1,
Goce Kalcev
5,
Elisa Pintus
1,
Elisa Cantone
1,
Marcello Nonnis
6,
Antonio Egidio Nardi
7,
Roberta Montisci
1 and
Diego Primavera
1
1
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
2
IDEGO Digital Psychology Society, 00197 Rome, Italy
3
CEREBRUM VR, 00197 Rome, Italy
4
Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
5
The National Alliance for Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuroscience GANGLION Skopje, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
6
Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
7
Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(20), 6206; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13206206
Submission received: 24 May 2024 / Revised: 14 October 2024 / Accepted: 16 October 2024 / Published: 18 October 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Rhythms Dysregulation and Bipolar Spectrum)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Alexithymia, a predictor in chronic illnesses, like cardiovascular and bipolar disorder (CD–BD), could be improved with a virtual reality (VR) cognitive remediation program. This secondary analysis of a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluates alexithymia improvement and its factors in an experimental group versus a control group, exploring extensions to individuals with comorbid non-psychiatric chronic conditions. Methods: A feasibility cross-over RCT (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05070065) enrolled individuals aged 18–75 with mood disorders (BD, DSM-IV), excluding those with relapses, epilepsy, or severe eye conditions due to potential risks with VR. Alexithymia levels were measured using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale with 20 items (TAS-20). Results: The study included 39 individuals in the experimental group and 25 in the control group, with no significant age or sex differences observed. Significantly improved alexithymia scores were noted in the experimental group compared to controls (F = 111.9; p < 0.0001) and in subgroups with chronic non-psychiatric comorbidities (F = 4.293, p = 0.048). Scores were particularly improved for difficulty in identifying feelings (F = 92.42; p < 0.00001), communicating feelings (F = 61.34; p < 0.00001), and externally oriented thinking (F = 173.12; p < 0.00001). Conclusions: The findings highlight alexithymia enhancement in BD, even with comorbid non-psychiatric chronic diseases. Given its impact on BD progression and related conditions, like CD, developing and evaluating VR-based tools in this context is suggested by these findings.
Keywords: alexithymia; bipolar disorder; COVID-19; cognitive remediation; virtual reality; advanced technology laboratory alexithymia; bipolar disorder; COVID-19; cognitive remediation; virtual reality; advanced technology laboratory

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sancassiani, F.; Perra, A.; Galetti, A.; Di Natale, L.; De Lorenzo, V.; Lorrai, S.; Kalcev, G.; Pintus, E.; Cantone, E.; Nonnis, M.; et al. Alexithymia and Bipolar Disorder: Virtual Reality Could Be a Useful Tool for the Treatment and Prevention of These Conditions in People with a Physical Comorbidity. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 6206. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13206206

AMA Style

Sancassiani F, Perra A, Galetti A, Di Natale L, De Lorenzo V, Lorrai S, Kalcev G, Pintus E, Cantone E, Nonnis M, et al. Alexithymia and Bipolar Disorder: Virtual Reality Could Be a Useful Tool for the Treatment and Prevention of These Conditions in People with a Physical Comorbidity. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(20):6206. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13206206

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sancassiani, Federica, Alessandra Perra, Alessia Galetti, Lorenzo Di Natale, Valerio De Lorenzo, Stefano Lorrai, Goce Kalcev, Elisa Pintus, Elisa Cantone, Marcello Nonnis, and et al. 2024. "Alexithymia and Bipolar Disorder: Virtual Reality Could Be a Useful Tool for the Treatment and Prevention of These Conditions in People with a Physical Comorbidity" Journal of Clinical Medicine 13, no. 20: 6206. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13206206

APA Style

Sancassiani, F., Perra, A., Galetti, A., Di Natale, L., De Lorenzo, V., Lorrai, S., Kalcev, G., Pintus, E., Cantone, E., Nonnis, M., Nardi, A. E., Montisci, R., & Primavera, D. (2024). Alexithymia and Bipolar Disorder: Virtual Reality Could Be a Useful Tool for the Treatment and Prevention of These Conditions in People with a Physical Comorbidity. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(20), 6206. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13206206

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop