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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Virtual Real.
Sec. Virtual Reality and Human Behaviour
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/frvir.2025.1404156
This article is part of the Research Topic Virtual Reality for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion View all 4 articles
Scoping review on the effect of simulation interventions to reduce stigma towards schizophrenia patients
Provisionally accepted- 1 Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- 2 University of Applied Sciences, Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
Schizophrenia imposes a significant burden on global public health and is associated with pervasive stigmatization, perpetuating misconceptions of danger and incompetence. This review examines the efficacy of simulation interventions in reducing stigmas associated with schizophrenia and fostering empathy towards affected individuals. A comprehensive literature review spanning from August 2021 to September 2022 identified 14 relevant studies meeting inclusion criteria. Analysis revealed a diverse landscape of simulation interventions, characterized by variability in methodological rigor, intervention design, and technological modalities. While some studies demonstrated promising outcomes in stigma reduction and empathy enhancement, methodological limitations and inconsistencies underscore the need for cautious interpretation of findings. Furthermore, mixed outcomes in stigma characteristics and empathy development highlight the complexity of intervention effectiveness. Despite these challenges, simulation interventions, particularly when integrated with additional components, hold potential in mitigating stigmatization and promoting empathy. Future research should prioritize methodological rigor, comprehensive outcome assessment, and tailored intervention strategies to advance the field of stigma reduction in schizophrenia.
Keywords: schizophrenia 1, Stigma 2, Simulation 3, virtual reality 4, Hallucination 5, intervention, prevention
Received: 20 Mar 2024; Accepted: 07 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Weiß, Unz and Schwab. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Eva-Maria Weiß, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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