Rehabilitation effect of virtual reality technology combined with group mode training in post⁃stroke depression patients

Objective To explore the rehabilitation effect of virtual reality (VR) technology combined with group mode training in post⁃stroke depression (PSD) patients. Methods A total of 61 PSD patients who were hospitalized in Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin University from June 2017 to September 2019 were collected. Patients were divided into control group (n=21), group mode training group (n=20) and VR technology combination with group mode training (combination group, n=20) based on the different rehabilitation treatment method. Zung's Self⁃Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale⁃17 (HAMD⁃17) were used to evaluate the objective and subjective psychology, Fugl⁃Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA) was used to evaluate movement function, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to evaluate balance function, and Modified Barthel Index (mBI) was used to measure activities of daily living before and after 6 weeks of treatment. Results The SDS (F=1456.816, P=0.000) and HAMD⁃17 (F=1583.392, P=0.000) scores in 3 groups after 6 weeks of treatment were lower than those before treatment, while FMA (F=866.536, P=0.000), BBS (F=1553.585, P=0.000) and mBI (F=2687.549, P=0.000) scores after 6 weeks of treatment were higher than those before treatment. The differences of SDS (F=9.163, P=0.000), HAMD⁃17 (F=6.490, P=0.003), BBS (F=1553.585, P=0.000) and mBI (F=3.163, P=0.050) scores among 3 groups had statistically significant. The SDS (t=⁃4.530, P=0.000; t=⁃6.211, P=0.000) and HAMD⁃17 (t=⁃3.308, P=0.002; t=⁃4.950, P=0.000) scores in combination treatment group were lower than those in group mode training group and control group, and the BBS (t=3.009, P=0.005; t=2.917, P=0.006) and mBI (t=3.405, P=0.002; t=4.462, P=0.000) scores in combination treatment group were higher than those in group mode training and control group. Correlation analysis showed the depression status score improvement index was positively correlated with the mBI score improvement index (r=0.592, P=0.000), but had no correlation with the FMA and BBS scores improvement index (P＞0.05, for all). Conclusions The rehabilitation treatment method of VR technology combined with group mode training is better than the traditional "one⁃to⁃one" rehabilitation mode and group mode training in improving the psychology, balance ability and activities of daily living of patients with PSD, and the rehabilitation effect is much better.