The use of immersive technology has shown positive results in more than 30 cases, and the hospital plans to expand therapy to other medical departments
A hospital in Hunan province, Central China, introduced virtual reality therapy (RV) into their infectious disease hepatology wards using immersive technology to help patients control mental suffering. More than 30 cases reported positive results with personalized RV content now developing to further improve treatment, Global Times heard from the hospital on Tuesday (25). According to the Department of Public Relations of The First Hospital of Changsha, RV therapy works by reducing stress hormone levels while patients are immersed in relaxing virtual environments, allowing the brain to partially suppress pain signs. The method has proven to be especially effective for bedridden patients and those receiving long -term treatment.
“When the RV headset is activated, the ward becomes highly realistic and relaxing scenes-a sunny beach, a bird-corner forest or a snowy mountain or thermal source,” Kong Jinling, chief nurse of the hospital’s infectious diseases, told Global Times. Therapy incorporates psychological techniques such as narrative therapy, breathing control, full attention, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation and hypnosis.
Kong noted that a patient with ICU syndrome cirrhosis – where physical weakness worsens mental suffering – has undergone daily 30 -minute RV therapy sessions. After two weeks of treatment, the patient saw blood pressure and heart rate stabilized, improved sleep and reduced infection markers.
Patients in infectious diseases often face recurrent symptoms such as fever, infections and bleeding, aggravated by isolation, anxiety and fear of losing social connection. Prolonged hospitalization has become a difficult mental and physical trial, Kong said.
Inspired by international research and case studies, the hospital launched the RV intervention program as a clinical psychological tool. Since then, therapy has expanded to various scenarios: patients with fever interact with pinguins in Arctic landscapes, people with pain ride alongside lotus lakes, and those who undergo procedures such as pacentesis and watch the soothing animations to relieve tension.
“Since May 2024, more than 30 patients have undergone RV therapy with positive feedback overall,” said Kong.
Still, the challenges remain. Some elderly patients feel dizziness, while severely patients may not have resistance to prolonged sessions. “We are optimizing solutions – adjusting the dynamics of the scene, customizing the content and shortening the duration,” said Kong.
The organic integration of psychological intervention with RV technology this time is an effective attempt, the hospital’s nursing department told Global Times. “After success in the Department of Infectious Diseases, the hospital will promote it in other departments, such as intensive care medicine, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery and infection immunology, providing patients with more effective and comfortable psychological support.”
Previously, Mianyang’s third hospital in Sichuan province, in southwest China, used special RV video games to assist in the treatment of mental disorders patients. RV therapy simulated various medical scenarios for patients. At the same time, digital cognitive rehabilitation devices leverage computer assisted methods to help patients restore cognitive functions such as calculation and memory, according to the Xinhua news agency.
With information from Global Times*
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/03/26/hospital-usa-realidade-virtual-para-aliviar-dor-e-ansiedade/
