Virtual Reality Stimulation to Enhance Cognitive Function of Intensive Care Unit Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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An observational study will be conducted in the ICU (Intensive care unit) including patients with heart surgery (< 5 days) and prolonged ICU stay (> 5 days). Patients will receive 5 min Virtual reality stimulation per day. A modified version of the Oculus Rift VR glasses (Facebook inc., USA) with stereoscopic vision and stereo sound will be used to present the virtual world to patients. An integrated eye tracker will measure oculomotor responses that will be synchronized with the physiological data recording. All participants will undergo neuropsychological testing after ICU stay, and after a three-months follow-up. Quality of life prior to the ICU stay will be enquired from relatives. Main outcome variable is the explorative behaviour (attention). Secondary outcomes are the quality of life and cognitive functioning.

Official Title
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Virtual Reality Stimulation to Enhance Cognitive Function of Intensive Care Unit Patients

Conditions
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Cognitive Impairment, Mild, Quality of Life

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Visuo-acoustic stimulation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age > =18 Speak German or French Are able to participate the follow up measurements Written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Visual impairments Cognitive impairments Cognitive impairments Craniocerebral injury before admitting the ICU Already admitted the intensive care unit (last year) or at reentry Psychotic disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Patients - prolonged ICU stay (> 5 days)<br>Controlled visual and acoustic stimulation in a virtual reality setting | Other: Visuo-acoustic stimulation<br>* Controlled visual and acoustic stimulation in a virtual reality setting<br>|
| Heart surgery patients (< 5 days)<br>Controlled visual and acoustic stimulation in a virtual reality setting | Other: Visuo-acoustic stimulation<br>* Controlled visual and acoustic stimulation in a virtual reality setting<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Attention measurement in patients in the intensive care unit | The attention is measured via explorative behaviour of the subject. This means an eye tracker is used to measure eye movements, fixation duration and number of fixations, which can be used to calculate the explorative behaviour. | Changes from baseline in attention measurement during and after admission (3 Month) to the ICU | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quality of Life | The quality of life are examined via EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire | After 3 months after admission to the ICU | 
| Cognitive functioning | The cognitive abilities are examined via CERAD test battery (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) this includes word fluidity, Boston Naming Test (BNT), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), word list memory, constructive practice, word list retrieve, word list recognition, constructive practice (retrieve) | Changes from baseline in cognitive functioning measurement after admission (3 Month) to the ICU |