An innovative, non-pharmacological solution for the treatment of stress, pain, and sleep disorders during the COVID pandemic through the combination of medical hypnosis, music therapy, and VR.
In the context of the COVID pandemic, HypnoVR wishes to capitalize on its expertise to develop non-pharmacological solutions for patients and caregivers in order to:
Act positively on patients’ post-intensive care syndrome by offering specific virtual hypnosis sessions for stress and anxiety management, sleep improvement, and pain management.
To provide psychological help to caregivers by offering hypnosis sessions in VR for stress management, self-confidence, fatigue management, sleep improvement, burn-out prevention.
An overview on the project
HypnoVR’s objective is to offer digital therapeutics to the largest number of patients and caregivers through the immersive multisensory capabilities of VR. We want to provide patients and caregivers with a personalized experience for maximum efficiency.
The extreme stress and multiple assaults to which patients are subjected during a stay in intensive care can be responsible for psychiatric symptoms (30-40%) that seriously impair quality of life. Many recovering intensive care patients have traumatic memories after their stay such as sleep disturbances (nightmares), acute anxiety, pain, which may be associated with the emergence of a post-traumatic stress disorder. These symptoms can have important consequences on the excess mortality at 1 year of 25 to 60% (Lone2012, Oeyen2010, Jones 2013, Unroe2010, Myhren2010, Needham2005), on somatic morbidity (increased care needs, home help, re-hospitalization of 40 to 67%), but also on the relational, emotional and social life of patients (impact on work) (Kapfhammer2004, Rattray2005).
Quality of life at work and quality of care are intimately linked. During this pandemic period, healthcare professionals experienced a disaster situation, with the saturation of reception capacities and mass care of heavy patients. This unprecedented situation led to physical and psychological overwork, stress, and fatigue.
The software developed is aimed at new uses, for which no digital therapy exists to date:
– Convalescent intensive care patients to fight against the multiple somatic, cognitive, and psychiatric sequels of the post-resuscitation syndrome.
– Caregivers to prevent burn-out and improve the quality of life at work.
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