Publications by authors named "Edit Vass"

Schizophrenia spectrum disorder poses a complex challenge in psychiatric treatment due to its multifaceted symptomatology. Modified AVATAR therapy, an innovative virtual reality-based intervention integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques such as systematic desensitization, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach offers a promising avenue for addressing auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). This case series report investigates the acceptability and feasibility of a modified AVATAR therapy in three patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder who experience distressing AVH.

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Background: Treatment effects of conventional approaches with antipsychotics or psychosocial interventions are limited when it comes to reducing negative and cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia. While there is emerging clinical evidence that new, augmented protocols based on theta-burst stimulation can increase rTMS efficacy dramatically in depression, data on similar augmented therapies are limited in schizophrenia. The different patterns of network impairments in subjects may underlie that some but not all patients responded to given stimulation locations.

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Evidence suggests that depressive symptomatology is a consequence of network dysfunction rather than lesion pathology. We studied whole-brain functional connectivity using a Minimum Spanning Tree as a graph-theoretical approach. Furthermore, we examined functional connectivity in the Default Mode Network, the Frontolimbic Network (FLN), the Salience Network, and the Cognitive Control Network.

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A large number of trials have supported the functional significance of Theory of Mind (ToM) impairment in schizophrenia. However, the nature and the extent of the impairment are still unclear. Reviews on the topic suggest that, in many cases, studies use only one tool to assess the levels of difficulty in the field, limiting the validity of the measurement to one aspect of ToM.

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Article Synopsis
  • Recent research highlights the significance of Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits in schizophrenia, suggesting it as a valuable target for treatment; however, its complexity poses challenges in developing effective interventions.
  • A new method called Virtual Reality-based Theory of Mind Intervention (VR-ToMIS) combines cognitive and behavioral therapies with VR technology, and a study with 42 patients showed promising results compared to a control group.
  • Findings revealed notable improvements in ToM tasks and other cognitive symptoms among the VR-ToMIS group, suggesting long-term benefits and the potential of integrating technology with traditional therapeutic approaches.
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Background: The World Wide Web along with online social media has significantly changed the dynamics of communication. Information is easier and faster to access, but at the same time the relevance of the content often remains questionable, often confronting users with half-truths and untruths. Information consumption patterns have also changed a lot, allowing more room for the emergence of deviant, provocative behaviors through anonymity.

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The use of virtual reality (VR) technology in psychiatry and psychotherapy has spread continiously over the last two decades. Researches has mainly focused on the VR-based therapy of anxiety disorders, but encouraging results have also been published in the field of diagnosis and therapy of eating disorders, addictions, autism, and ADHD. There have been fewer reports on the therapy of schizophrenia yet.

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Theory of mind is one of the most intensively studied phenomena in the development of schizophrenic symptoms and impairments in social adjustment. Complex theory of mind processing requires both visual and verbal aspects of the social-perceptual and social-cognitive components of mind reading. Reliable assessment methods are considered essential for the proper conduct of research.

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Schizophrenia is a severe and disabling mental illness, associated with persistent difficulties in social functioning. While gaining and retaining a job or staying socially integrated can be very difficult for the patients, the treatment of poor functionality remains challenging with limited options in pharmacotherapy. To address the limitations of medical treatment, several interesting and innovative approaches have been introduced in the field of psychotherapy.

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Schizophrenia research in the last decades led to rapid development of our knowledge regarding the cogni - tive deficits in the disease. Presence of neurocognitive and social cognitive deficits in schizophrenia is widely confirmed by empirical studies. Metacognition is one of the most recent and relatively less studied field of schizophrenia.

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Article Synopsis
  • Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that makes everyday life really challenging, and while some medicines help, they often don’t fix related social problems.
  • A new virtual reality program called VR-ToMIS was created to help people with schizophrenia improve their thinking skills and social interactions in a fun way.
  • In a small study with 21 patients, those using VR-ToMIS showed better memory and social skills, although their overall quality of life didn’t change much.
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Rapid development in information technology has been observed recently and has led to valuable developments also in healthcare. 3D-bio-printing or the virtual simulations that help the acquisition of anatomical and pathological knowledge and testing the acquired knowledge are just some of the examples. This progress can be recognized also in psychiatry.

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Theory of Mind (ToM) plays a central role in regulating social interactions and its impairment is consistently reported in schizophrenia. Regarding schizophrenia, ToM is usually discussed as a sub-domain of social cognition. Since social cognitive deficits have drawn the attention of researchers, a variety of novel treatment techniques and approaches targeting social cognitive deficits have been developed.

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In the recent years plenty of therapeutic treatment methods have been developed, aimed at neurocognitive impairments in schizophrenia. These trainingprograms can hold up promising results in the improvement of neurocognitive functions. Nevertheless the generalisation on the daily life is not perspicuous.

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