Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Therapy (VRAPT) versus Waiting List Control for Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Klein Tuente, Stéphanie; Bogaerts, Stefan; Bulten, Erik; Keulen-de Vos, Marije; Vos, Maarten; Bokern, Hein; IJzendoorn, Sarah van; Geraets, Chris N. W.; Veling, Wim

doi:10.3390/jcm9072258

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Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Therapy (VRAPT) versus Waiting List Control for Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Stéphanie Klein Tuente

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Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands

Forensic Psychiatric Center (FPC) Dr. S. van Mesdag, Helperlinie 2, 9722 AZ Groningen, The Netherlands

Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Prof Cobbenhagenlaan 225, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands

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Fivoor, Fivoor Science & Treatment Innovation, Kijvelandsekade 1, 3172 AB Poortugaal, The Netherlands

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Division Diagnostics Research and Education, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital Pompefoundation, Weg door Jonkerbos 55, 6532 CN Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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Behavioral Science Institute (BSI) of Radboud University, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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Forensic Psychiatric Center (FPC) de Rooyse Wissel, P.O. Box 433, 5800AK Venray, The Netherlands

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9(7), 2258; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9072258

Received: 23 June 2020 / Revised: 9 July 2020 / Accepted: 13 July 2020 / Published: 16 July 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Psychopathological Disorders)

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Abstract

Many forensic psychiatric inpatients have difficulties regulating aggressive behavior. Evidence of effective aggression treatments is limited. We designed and investigated the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic application of a virtual reality aggression prevention training (VRAPT). In this randomized controlled trial at four Dutch forensic psychiatric centers, 128 inpatients with aggressive behavior were randomly assigned to VRAPT (N = 64) or waiting list control group (N = 64). VRAPT consisted of 16 one-hour individual treatment sessions twice a week. Assessments were done at baseline, post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Primary outcome measures were aggressive behavior observed by staff and self-reported aggressive behavior. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial was registered in the Dutch Trial Register (NTR, TC = 6340). Participants were included between 1 March 2017, and 31 December 2018. Compared to waiting list, VRAPT did not significantly decrease in self-reported or observed aggressive behavior (primary outcomes). Hostility, anger control, and non-planning impulsiveness improved significantly in the VRAPT group compared to the control group at post-treatment. Improvements were not maintained at 3-month follow-up. Results suggest that VRAPT does not decrease aggressive behavior in forensic inpatients. However, there are indications that VRAPT temporarily influences anger control skills, impulsivity and hostility. View Full-Text

Keywords: aggressive behavior; forensic psychiatry; social information processing model; randomized controlled trial; virtual reality; severe psychopathology

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Klein Tuente, S.; Bogaerts, S.; Bulten, E.; Keulen-de Vos, M.; Vos, M.; Bokern, H.; IJzendoorn, S.v.; Geraets, C.N.W.; Veling, W. Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Therapy (VRAPT) versus Waiting List Control for Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 2258. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9072258

AMA Style

Klein Tuente S, Bogaerts S, Bulten E, Keulen-de Vos M, Vos M, Bokern H, IJzendoorn Sv, Geraets CNW, Veling W. Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Therapy (VRAPT) versus Waiting List Control for Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020; 9(7):2258. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9072258

Chicago/Turabian Style

Klein Tuente, Stéphanie, Stefan Bogaerts, Erik Bulten, Marije Keulen-de Vos, Maarten Vos, Hein Bokern, Sarah v. IJzendoorn, Chris N.W. Geraets, and Wim Veling. 2020. "Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Therapy (VRAPT) versus Waiting List Control for Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial" Journal of Clinical Medicine 9, no. 7: 2258. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9072258

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Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Therapy (VRAPT) versus Waiting List Control for Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

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