Interventions for cognitive impairments and mental health by the means of virtual reality among stroke survivors

The objectives of this review were to examine characteristics of Virtual reality interventions aimed at improving a) cognition and b) mental health in stroke survivors at home and inpatient/outpatient settings and their effectiveness. Further, similarities and differences between the different settings were explored. Method: The data sources used for this systematic literature review were Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. The main eligibility criteria concerned records with stroke-patients, virtual reality interventions, outcomes concerning cognition and/or mental well-being as well as a publication after 2016. Both, qualitative and quantitative data were reviewed. Results: A total of 1824 records were found, of which 23 were used. Only a small number of studies made use of fully immersive virtual reality in all settings. Instead of commonly known VR glasses, tablets and computer working stations were mainly used. The most prevalent intervention mode consisted of games. Results on the effectiveness of VR deviated among the records, still, it is seen to be beneficial as a complementary treatment component to conventional treatment. Conclusion: Overall, VR seems to be a promising complementary intervention for cognitive impairments and poor mental health among stroke patients.