Virtual Reality Therapy and Medical Technology

VR-Labor der Psychiatrie mit Fr.Prof. Philipsen und Dr. Niclas Braun im Hintergrund

Virtual reality therapy (VRT) describes the computer-generated simulation of immersive, interactive, and reality-close virtual environments for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A typical VRT application is for instance the reality-close visual simulation of anxiety-provoking situations by means of VR glasses for exposure therapy in anxiety disorders.

The aim of the research group "Virtual Reality Therapy and Medical Technology" (head: Dr. Niclas Braun) is the (further) development and multimodal examination of VR-based diagnostic and therapeutic methods for mental disorders. In addition, the research group deals with various medical technology issues, such as the development and efficacy evaluation of digital healthcare apps and electrosimulative therapy approaches.

Research areas

Development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of ADHD, panic disorder & agoraphobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Experimental studies on the psychopathology and plasticity of the self by means of different body-transfer illusions (e.g. supernumerary limb illusion und resized limb illusion) in dissociative disorders and psychoses.
Multimodal investigation (including EEG, EDA, EMG, ECG, actigraphy, eye tracking and fNIRS) of VR experiments.
Therapeutic testing of electrostimulatory procedures (especially tACS).
Research focus Digital Health Applications (DiGA) and Therapy-Apps.

Currently running research projects

Multimodal ADHD-Diagnostics: a virtual seminar room study (A. Wiebe, A. Lepartz, D. Dudek, C. Brockmann)
Assessment of sense of agency in obsessive-compulsive disorder using a virtual reality stove-checking paradigm (in Kooperation mit der Zwangsambulanz)
Smartphone-assisted exposure therapy in agoraphobia and panic disorder (M. Ehklas, M. Guth, A. Rodenjohann, F. Rohlfsen, J. Schilbach, A. Wiebe)
VR-based and eyetracking-assisted attention refocusing training for ADHD patients (B. Selaskowski, L. Asché, gefördert durch BONFOR)
Body transfer illusions in the schizophrenia spectrum: a series of VR experiments (J. Pakos, J. Hackmann, K. Baum, M. Braun, L.Farrus)
Body transfer illusions in dissociative disorders: a series of VR experiments (M. Pensel, A. Kobialka, J. Raschkowski)
Multimodal ADHD diagnostics: a virtual office study (A. Wiebe, A. Popova)

Team

Dr. Niclas Braun, research group leader ()
Benjamin Selaskowski, PhD Candidate
Annika Wiebe, PhD Candidate
Julian Pakos, PhD Candidate
Laura Marie Asché, PhD Candidate
Dr. Max Pensel, medical staff
Dr. Matthias Guth, medical staff

Alumni

Kyra Kannen, PhD Candidate

Recent publications

Selaskowski, B., Asché, L. M., Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Aslan, B., Gerding, T. M., Sanchez, D., Ettinger, U., Kölle, M., Lux, S., Philipsen, A., & Braun, N. (2023). Gaze-based attention refocusing training in virtual reality for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04551-z
*Wiebe A, *Kannen K, *Selaskowski B, Mehren A, Thöne AK, Pramme L, Blumenthal N, Li M, Asché L, Jonas S, Bey K, Schulze M, Steffens M, Pensel MC, Guth M, Rohlfsen F, Ekhlas M, Lügering H, Fileccia H, Pakos J, Lux S, Philipsen A, Braun N. (2022). Virtual reality in the diagnostic and therapy for mental disorders: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 98, 102213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102213 *shared first authorship
*Baum, K., *Hackmann, J., *Pakos, J., Kannen, K., Wiebe, A., Selaskowski, B., … Braun, N. (2022). Body transfer illusions in the schizophrenia spectrum: a systematic review. Schizophrenia, 8(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-022-00314-z *shared first authorship
Selaskowski, B., Steffens, M., Schulze, M., Lingen, M., Aslan, B., Rosen, H., Kannen, K., Wiebe, A., Wallbaum, T., Boll, S., Lux, S., Philipsen, A., & Braun, N. (2022). Smartphone-assisted psychoeducation in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry Research, 317, 114802. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114802
Kannen, K., Aslan, B., Boetzel, C., Herrmann, C. S., Lux, S., Rosen, H., Selaskowski, B., Wiebe, A., Philipsen, A., & Braun, N. (2022). P300 Modulation via Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Crossover Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.928145
Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Li, M., Aslan, B., Anders, D., Selaskowski, B., Ettinger, U., Lux, S., Philipsen, A., & Braun, N. (2022). Multimodal Virtual Reality-Based Assessment of Adult ADHD: A Feasibility Study in Healthy Subjects. Assessment, 10731911221089192. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911221089193
Selaskowski, B., Staerk, C., Braun, N., Matthies, S., Graf, E., Colla, M., Jacob, C., Sobanski, E., Alm, B., Roesler, M., Retz, W., Retz-Junginger, P., Kis, B., Abdel-Hamid, M., Huss, M., Jans, T., Tebartz van Elst, L., Berger, M., Lux, S., Mayr, A., & Philipsen, A. (2022). Multimodal treatment efficacy differs in dependence of core symptom profiles in adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An analysis of the randomized controlled COMPAS trial. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 151, 225–234.https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.049
Peckmann, C., Kannen, K., Pensel, M. C., Lux, S., Philipsen, A., & Braun, N. (2022). Virtual reality induces symptoms of depersonalization and derealization: A longitudinal randomised control trial. Computers in Human Behavior, 131, 107233. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107233
Anders, D., Berisha, A., Selaskowski, B., Asché, L., Thorne, J. D., Philipsen, A., & Braun, N. (2021). Experimental Induction of Micro- and Macrosomatognosia: A Virtual Hand Illusion Study. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2, 47. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2021.656788
Braun, N., Berisha, A., Anders, D., Kannen, K., Lux, S., & Philipsen, A. (2020). Experimental Inducibility of Supernumerary Phantom Limbs: A Series of Virtual Reality Experiments. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 1(October), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2020.00012
Möller, T. J., Braun, N., Thöne, A.-K., Herrmann, C. S., & Philipsen, A. (2020). The Senses of Agency and Ownership in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11(June), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00474
Spychala, N., Bongartz, E., Philipsen, A., Debener, S. & Braun, N. (2020). Self-paced, embodiable neurofeedback for post-stroke motor rehabilitation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00461

Recent conference contributions

Braun, N., Selaskowski, B., Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Aslan, B., Asché, L., Lux, S., & Philipsen, A. Virtuelle Realität in der Erforschung, Diagnostik und Behandlung der ADHS. Symposiumsbeitrag, DGPPN 2022.
Wiebe, A. Virtual Reality in ADHD Diagnostics. Talk im Rahmen des Symposiums Digitale Medizin, Uniklinik Bonn, 2022.
Asché, L., Selaskowski, B., Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Aslan, B., Morano, T., Sanchéz, D., Lux, S., Philipsen, A. & Braun, N. Effects of Eye movement-based real-time Feedback on Attentional Performance in Adult ADHD: a Virtual Seminar Room Study. Kongressposter, DGPPN 2022.
Selaskowski, B., Asché, L., Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Aslan, B., Sanchéz, D., Lux, S., Philipsen, A. & Braun, N. (2022). Virtual reality-based and eye tracking-assisted attention refocusing training for adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivit
Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Li, M., Aslan, B., Anders, D., Selaskowski, B., Ettinger, U., Lux, S., Philipsen, A. & Braun, N. Multimodal assessment of inattention and impulsivity: a virtual seminarroom study. Symposium talk, DPPD 2021.
Peckmann, C., Lux, S., Philipsen A. & Braun, N. Does virtual reality gaming lead to feelings of depersonalisation and derealisation: a longitudinal VR study. Congress poster, DGPPN 2020.
Li, M., Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Selaskowski, B., Aslan, B., Lux, S., Ettinger, U., Anders, D., Philipsen, A. & Braun, N. Multimodal adult ADHD assessment by means of Virtual Reality: a feasibility study in healthy participants. Congress poster ADHD World Congress, 2020.
Braun, N. Clinically inspired investigation of bodily self-awareness. Symposium talk, TeaP 2020.

Public media

"Virtual Reality - Schöne neue Welt?", Phoenix-Dokumentation (ab Minute: 22:46),
"Mit Apps gegen die Angst: Aus dem Diga-Verzeichnis des Bundesinstituts für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte", BR24 Gesundheitsmagazin vom 1.8.2021
Mit einer App gegen Panik und Platzangst, UKB press release
Is virtual reality bad for mental health?, Techmonitor.ai
ADHS bei Erwachsenen, WDR Lokalzeit
Virtual reality can induce mild and transient symptoms of depersonalization and derealization, study finds, Interview at PsyPost

Third-party funds raised

2022: DAISY (BMBF-Verbundprojekt): Developing AI ecosystems improving diagnosis and care of mental diseases
2022: iBehave, IP9 (BMBF-Verbundprojekt): Deciphering heterogeneity and subtyping of ADHD by translational multimodal deep behavioral phenotyping
2020: BONFOR, Instrument 2: VR-based and eyetracking-assisted attention refocusing training for ADHD patients
2019: MEDICE: Multimodal adult ADHD assessment by means of Virtual Reality

Opportunities for internships and dissertations

Professionally-suitable students (e.g. Psychology, Cognitive Science, Medicine, Informatics) who would like to write their master's or doctoral thesis about a clinical or neurophilosophical VR-related topic, are warmly welcomed to contact

Current tenders

Ausschreibung Masterarbeit "Multimodale ADHS-Diagnostik mittels virtueller Realität"

Opportunities for study participation

The VR-Laboratory as well as the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in general is constantly conducting new studies for which new study participants of all ages and sexes are being searched for.

Please find under the following link a list of all currently running studies for which prospective probands are searched for.