Exploring Virtual Reality as a Novel Approach to Treating Hoarding Disorder in Older Adults

Written by Ehrun Omuemu, PharmD 2027

April 2, 2024

Exploring Virtual Reality as a Novel Approach to Treating Hoarding Disorder in Older Adults

Hoarding disorder, characterized by the excessive accumulation of possessions and difficulty discarding them, poses significant challenges for affected individuals, particularly older adults. While traditional treatment approaches emphasize skills related to discarding and decision-making, in-home visits for therapy may not always be feasible, and real-life discarding can be too daunting. However, emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) offer promising alternatives for therapy interventions. 

VR as an Innovative Solution

VR technology enables the creation of immersive virtual environments, including lifelike simulations of homes and possessions. In the context of hoarding disorder treatment, VR can replicate the home environment of patients, allowing them to practice sorting and discarding virtual possessions in a controlled setting. This approach serves as a stepping stone to real-life discarding, providing a safe and manageable space for individuals to confront their hoarding behaviors.

Exploring VR Intervention

A recent study, conducted with nine older adults diagnosed with hoarding disorder, investigated the effectiveness of an 8-week VR intervention. The VR sessions were designed to augment a 16-week Buried in Treasures group treatment. Each participant's VR room was meticulously modeled after their actual living space, incorporating 3D scans of their possessions.

During clinician-administered VR sessions, participants engaged in sorting and discarding their virtual possessions, guided by therapeutic techniques. The intervention proved to be feasible to administer, with participants reporting positive experiences during VR sessions. Feedback indicated that VR helped them increase real-life discarding behaviors, marking a significant step forward in their treatment journey.

Promising Results and Future Directions

The outcomes of the exploratory pilot study were encouraging, with self-reported hoarding symptoms showing a decrease from baseline to the end of the intervention period. Importantly, seven out of nine participants demonstrated reliable improvement, underscoring the potential of VR as a supplementary tool in hoarding disorder treatment.

In conclusion, virtual reality presents a promising avenue for addressing the complex challenges associated with hoarding disorder, particularly in older adults. By simulating at-home sorting and discarding experiences in a safe and controlled environment, VR interventions offer a novel approach to augmenting skills acquisition and promoting real-life behavior change. As research in this area continues to evolve, VR holds great potential as a valuable tool in the comprehensive treatment of hoarding disorder.

References:

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