Virtual Reality and Neuropsychiatric Rehabilitation: a Single-blind, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study in Patients With Global Developmental Delay.

Global Developmental Delay (GDD) is a disorder characterized by failure achievement of expected milestones in different areas of psychomotor development before 5 years of age. The estimated incidence of GDD is 1-3%, an early diagnosis and an efficacy treatment could provide a better long-term prognosis. Recent literature data have underlined the importance of early diagnosis followed by appropriate therapeutic management. In fact, GDDs could evolve into different neurodevelopmental disorders, especially if associated with other risk factors, such as intrauterine growth retardation, nutrient deficiencies, breastfeeding and maternal education, scarce social and economic conditions, poor learning opportunities, inadequate quality of caregiver-child interactions.

In recent decades, the use of virtual reality (VR) for therapeutic reason has become more and more popular for innovative treatments in cognitive-motor domain. Indeed, VR and the interactive playing can motivate children to learn new skills. Among the high-tech tools used in recent years for rehabilitation, the BTs Nirvana (BTsN) is one of the semi-immersive VR that can also be used in children, which allows to stimulate cognitive and motor domains. The aim of this single-blind, randomized, controlled study is to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of integrated rehabilitation treatments with the use of BTsN in patient with Global Developmental Delay.