A hospital in Central China's Hunan Province has introduced virtual reality (VR) therapy in its infectious diseases hepatology wards, using immersive technology to help patients manage mental distress. More than 30 cases have reported positive outcomes with customized VR content now under development to further enhance treatment, the Global Times learned from the hospital on Tuesday.

3月25日,，《環(huán)球時(shí)報(bào)》從中國(guó)中部湖南省的一家醫(yī)院了解到,，其感染科肝病病區(qū)引入了虛擬現(xiàn)實(shí)（VR）療法,，利用沉浸式技術(shù)幫助患者緩解精神壓力。目前,，該院已有30多位患者通過(guò)VR療法取得了不錯(cuò)的效果,，醫(yī)院正在開(kāi)發(fā)定制化的VR內(nèi)容，進(jìn)一步優(yōu)化療效,。

According to the public relations department of The First Hospital of Changsha hospital, the VR therapy works by lowering stress hormone levels as patients are immersed in soothing virtual environments, allowing the brain to partially suppress pain signals. The method has proven especially effective for bedridden patients and those receiving long-term treatment.

據(jù)長(zhǎng)沙市第一醫(yī)院宣傳部介紹,，VR療法的作用機(jī)制在于，當(dāng)患者沉浸于舒緩的虛擬場(chǎng)景中時(shí),，身體分泌的壓力激素會(huì)減少，疼痛信號(hào)會(huì)被大腦“忽略”一部分,。實(shí)踐證明,，這對(duì)于長(zhǎng)期臥床、治療周期長(zhǎng)的患者尤為有效,。

"When the VR headset is activated, the ward transforms into highly realistic and soothing scenes — a sunny beach, a forest filled with birdsong, or a snowy mountain or hot spring," Kong Jinling, a head nurse of the hospital's infectious diseases department, told the Global Times. The therapy incorporates psychological techniques such as narrative therapy, breath control, mindfulness, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation and hypnosis.

“患者戴上VR頭顯啟動(dòng)設(shè)備后,，病房瞬間就能變成極為極其真實(shí)并讓人放松的場(chǎng)景，比如陽(yáng)光燦爛的海灘,、鳥鳴陣陣的森林,，又或是雪山溫泉?！?感染科護(hù)士長(zhǎng)孔金玲向《環(huán)球時(shí)報(bào)》介紹道,。她還表示，這種療法融合了敘事療法,、呼吸松弛訓(xùn)練,、正念療法、冥想療法,、漸進(jìn)式肌肉放松訓(xùn)練和催眠等多種心理治療技術(shù),，通過(guò)多維度的干預(yù)，幫助患者舒緩身心,。

Kong noted that one cirrhosis patient with ICU syndrome - where physical weakness worsens mental distress - who underwent 30-minute daily VR therapy sessions. After two weeks of treatment, the patient saw stabilized blood pressure and heart rate, improved sleep and reduced infection markers.

孔金玲介紹,，曾有位肝硬化患者因出現(xiàn)典型“ICU綜合征”——身體越虛弱，心理越崩潰,，于是每天接受30分鐘的VR療愈,。在經(jīng)過(guò)兩周的治療后，其血壓與心率趨于平穩(wěn),，夜間睡眠狀況得到改善,，原本波動(dòng)的感染指標(biāo)也顯著下降。

Patients in infectious disease wards often face recurring symptoms like fever, infections and bleeding, compounded by isolation, anxiety and fear of losing social connection. Prolonged hospitalization has become a tough mental and physical ordeal, said Kong.

孔金玲表示,，傳染病患者常常要與發(fā)熱,、感染,、出血等反復(fù)出現(xiàn)的生理病痛抗?fàn)帲瑫r(shí)還要承受隔離帶來(lái)的影響,，深陷失去社交聯(lián)系的焦慮和恐懼,。對(duì)他們來(lái)說(shuō)，漫長(zhǎng)的住院治療猶如一場(chǎng)身心俱疲的“持久戰(zhàn)”,。

Inspired by international research and case studies, the hospital launched the VR intervention program as a clinical psychological tool. The therapy has since expanded across various scenarios: Fever patients interact with penguins in Arctic landscapes, pain sufferers stroll beside lotus-filled lakes, and those undergoing procedures like paracentesis watch calming animations to ease tension.

受國(guó)際研究和案例的啟發(fā),，長(zhǎng)沙市第一醫(yī)院推出了VR干預(yù)項(xiàng)目，將其作為一種臨床心理治療工具,，并已擴(kuò)展應(yīng)用于多種場(chǎng)景：高燒患者可“置身”北極與企鵝互動(dòng),；疼痛難忍者能“漫步”荷花湖畔；甚至在進(jìn)行腹穿,、置管等侵入性操作時(shí),，患者也可通過(guò)觀看VR動(dòng)畫分散注意力，降低緊張感,。

"Since May 2024, more than 30 patients have undergone VR therapy with positive feedback overall," Kong said.

“自2024年5月以來(lái),，已有30多名患者接受了VR治療，總體反饋良好,?！笨捉鹆岜硎尽?/span>

Still, challenges remain. Some elderly patients experience dizziness, while the critically ill may lack stamina for extended sessions. "We're optimizing solutions -adjusting scene dynamics, customizing content, and shortening duration," Kong said.

盡管如此,，該療法仍有改善空間,，如部分老年患者在使用過(guò)程中易出現(xiàn)眩暈，危重患者體力難以支撐長(zhǎng)時(shí)間使用,。對(duì)此,，孔金玲表示：“科室也正在探索調(diào)整場(chǎng)景動(dòng)態(tài)、為患者定制內(nèi)容,、縮短治療時(shí)長(zhǎng)等優(yōu)化方案,。”

The organic integration of psychological intervention with VR technology this time is an effective attempt, the nursing department of the hospital told the Global Times. "After the success in the infectious diseases department, the hospital will next 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."

該院護(hù)理部向《環(huán)球時(shí)報(bào)》表示,，此次心理干預(yù)與VR技術(shù)的有機(jī)結(jié)合是一次有效嘗試,。“在感染科取得成功后,，醫(yī)院接下來(lái)將在重癥醫(yī)學(xué)科,、康復(fù)醫(yī)學(xué)科、骨科,、神經(jīng)外科以及感染免疫科等其他科室推廣這一療法,，為患者提供更有效、更舒適的心理療法支持?！?/p>