Slide
Centre Interdisciplinaire
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
1.
Yee, J.; Matheson, H.; Bogie, B. J. M.; Perron, É. D.; Thérond, A.; Charest, M.; Driel, C.; Goyette, M.; Lei, Y. T.; Noël, C.; Ariaratnam, K.; Collins, G.; Gorman, C.; Cretu, A. -M.; Tremblay, S.; Rivard, M. -C.; Cullwick, C.; Morris, C.; Attwood, D. G.; Baines, A.; Stewart, A.; Bouchard, S.; Bowie, C. R.; Guimond, S.
Cognitive Remediation for Psychosis in Virtual Reality (ThinkTactic VR): Qualitative, Iterative, and User-Centered Codevelopment Study Journal Article
In: JMIR Mental Health, vol. 12, 2025, ISSN: 23687959 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, article, clinical article, cognitive defect, Cognitive rehabilitation, Cognitive remediation, Cognitive remediation therapy, community functioning, health care personnel, human, neurocognition, patient engagement, program development, psychosis, qualitative research, social cognition, user-centered approach, user-centered design, virtual reality
@article{yee_cognitive_2025,
title = {Cognitive Remediation for Psychosis in Virtual Reality (ThinkTactic VR): Qualitative, Iterative, and User-Centered Codevelopment Study},
author = {J. Yee and H. Matheson and B. J. M. Bogie and É. D. Perron and A. Thérond and M. Charest and C. Driel and M. Goyette and Y. T. Lei and C. Noël and K. Ariaratnam and G. Collins and C. Gorman and A. -M. Cretu and S. Tremblay and M. -C. Rivard and C. Cullwick and C. Morris and D. G. Attwood and A. Baines and A. Stewart and S. Bouchard and C. R. Bowie and S. Guimond},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105013110717&doi=10.2196%2F69359&partnerID=40&md5=c5daaabcfd92d826b28327a5800609ae},
doi = {10.2196/69359},
issn = {23687959 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {JMIR Mental Health},
volume = {12},
abstract = {Background: Cognitive remediation improves cognition and psychosocial functioning in individuals with psychotic disorders. The use of virtual reality (VR) to deliver cognitive remediation in immersive environments that mimic real cognitively challenging situations has the potential to increase engagement to treatment and further enhance its impact on functioning. Objective: We aimed to codevelop a cognitive remediation program in VR with individuals with psychotic disorders and health care professionals to identify and address their needs. Methods: Individuals with lived experience of a psychosis-spectrum condition (n=11) met 9 times and the health care professionals (n=7) met 3 times. Participants discussed personal and professional opinions on the challenges associated with cognitive difficulties in individuals with psychotic disorders. They also provided feedback on the program development. Results: We discerned 4 themes from the content expert working groups: the need for a program to address cognitive impairments, the key program design elements to support cognitive rehabilitation, the importance of leveraging technology as an intervention tool, and the need to improve community functioning. In total, 3 themes were identified for the health care professionals: the need for a clinically relevant program that addresses the research-to-practice gap, the need to improve patient engagement in services, and the need for a program that addresses the limited resources in health care. The needs of our end-user experts were placed at the center of the program development process. When possible, we also integrated their suggestions, like the incorporation of a virtual coach within the immersive environment. Conclusions: Individuals with lived experience and health care professionals have distinct needs, which have informed the co-design of a novel cognitive remediation program in VR, ThinkTactic VR. To our knowledge, ThinkTactic VR is one of the first co-designed and codeveloped cognitive remediation programs in VR using an iterative, user-centered approach involving both individuals with psychotic disorders and health care professionals. ©Jasmin Yee, Hannah Matheson, Bryce J M Bogie, Émilie Du Perron, Alexandra Thérond, Maëlle Charest, Catheleine van Driel, Marika Goyette, Ya Ting Lei, Chelsea Noël, Kagusthan Ariaratnam, Greg Collins, Chris Gorman, Ana-Maria Cretu, Simon Tremblay, Marie-Christine Rivard, Catherine Cullwick, Crystal Morris, David G Attwood, Alexandra Baines, Angela Stewart, Stéphane Bouchard, Christopher R Bowie, Synthia Guimond.},
keywords = {adult, article, clinical article, cognitive defect, Cognitive rehabilitation, Cognitive remediation, Cognitive remediation therapy, community functioning, health care personnel, human, neurocognition, patient engagement, program development, psychosis, qualitative research, social cognition, user-centered approach, user-centered design, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: Cognitive remediation improves cognition and psychosocial functioning in individuals with psychotic disorders. The use of virtual reality (VR) to deliver cognitive remediation in immersive environments that mimic real cognitively challenging situations has the potential to increase engagement to treatment and further enhance its impact on functioning. Objective: We aimed to codevelop a cognitive remediation program in VR with individuals with psychotic disorders and health care professionals to identify and address their needs. Methods: Individuals with lived experience of a psychosis-spectrum condition (n=11) met 9 times and the health care professionals (n=7) met 3 times. Participants discussed personal and professional opinions on the challenges associated with cognitive difficulties in individuals with psychotic disorders. They also provided feedback on the program development. Results: We discerned 4 themes from the content expert working groups: the need for a program to address cognitive impairments, the key program design elements to support cognitive rehabilitation, the importance of leveraging technology as an intervention tool, and the need to improve community functioning. In total, 3 themes were identified for the health care professionals: the need for a clinically relevant program that addresses the research-to-practice gap, the need to improve patient engagement in services, and the need for a program that addresses the limited resources in health care. The needs of our end-user experts were placed at the center of the program development process. When possible, we also integrated their suggestions, like the incorporation of a virtual coach within the immersive environment. Conclusions: Individuals with lived experience and health care professionals have distinct needs, which have informed the co-design of a novel cognitive remediation program in VR, ThinkTactic VR. To our knowledge, ThinkTactic VR is one of the first co-designed and codeveloped cognitive remediation programs in VR using an iterative, user-centered approach involving both individuals with psychotic disorders and health care professionals. ©Jasmin Yee, Hannah Matheson, Bryce J M Bogie, Émilie Du Perron, Alexandra Thérond, Maëlle Charest, Catheleine van Driel, Marika Goyette, Ya Ting Lei, Chelsea Noël, Kagusthan Ariaratnam, Greg Collins, Chris Gorman, Ana-Maria Cretu, Simon Tremblay, Marie-Christine Rivard, Catherine Cullwick, Crystal Morris, David G Attwood, Alexandra Baines, Angela Stewart, Stéphane Bouchard, Christopher R Bowie, Synthia Guimond.
2.
Banville, F.; Milhomme, D.; Perron, A.; Pinard, J.; Houle, J.; Therrien, D.; Peguero-Rodriguez, G.; Charette, S.; Ménélas, B. -A.; Trépanier, M.; Bouchard, S.
Using Virtual Reality to Improve Nurses’ Students’ Clinical Surveillance in a Critical Care Context: A Psychological Perspective on Learning Journal Article
In: Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, vol. 21, pp. 245–251, 2023, ISSN: 15548716, (Publisher: Interactive Media Institute).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: article, clinical monitoring, cognition, controlled study, cybersickness, female, human, human experiment, intensive care, intensive care unit, interview, male, normal human, nursing student, psychological aspect, qualitative analysis, qualitative research, recovery room, skill, virtual reality
@article{banville_using_2023,
title = {Using Virtual Reality to Improve Nurses’ Students’ Clinical Surveillance in a Critical Care Context: A Psychological Perspective on Learning},
author = {F. Banville and D. Milhomme and A. Perron and J. Pinard and J. Houle and D. Therrien and G. Peguero-Rodriguez and S. Charette and B. -A. Ménélas and M. Trépanier and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85182468511&partnerID=40&md5=65f6f32f45ade940105c06386edd7a1c},
issn = {15548716},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},
volume = {21},
pages = {245–251},
publisher = {Interactive Media Institute},
abstract = {Nurse’s clinical judgement is important to provide optimal and safe care, particularly in a critical care unit. Clinical surveillance is an activity that nurses use every day and which requires crucial components to manage patients' risk of complications. To carry out this process, several cognitive functions and psychological attitudes are needed such as information and attention processing, judgement, decision-making, stress, and anxiety regulation. Since 2018, Milhomme, Banville et al. have been working to develop a Virtual Care Unit (VCU), using immersive virtual reality, intended to train future nurses to improve their competence towards clinical surveillance process skills. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to determine the pertinence to use VCU simulation with graduating nurses’ students to improve clinical surveillance skills in a critical care context. Thirteen nursing students were recruited to test the scenario through the VCU. Participants were instructed to carry surveillance process on a specific patient who suffer of an instability after a surgery. An interview guide of 11 questions was used for the data collection. The results show there are 10 facilitating and 9 restricting factors in the VCU that may play a role in nursing students’ learning clinical surveillance processes. Among these elements, four of them have an important link with a psychological perspective: 1) sense of presence; 2) cybersickness; 3) reflexive environment; 4) stress reduction. Results show an important contribution of several cognitive function in the clinical surveillance process learning by the virtual reality technology. © 2023, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},
note = {Publisher: Interactive Media Institute},
keywords = {article, clinical monitoring, cognition, controlled study, cybersickness, female, human, human experiment, intensive care, intensive care unit, interview, male, normal human, nursing student, psychological aspect, qualitative analysis, qualitative research, recovery room, skill, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Nurse’s clinical judgement is important to provide optimal and safe care, particularly in a critical care unit. Clinical surveillance is an activity that nurses use every day and which requires crucial components to manage patients' risk of complications. To carry out this process, several cognitive functions and psychological attitudes are needed such as information and attention processing, judgement, decision-making, stress, and anxiety regulation. Since 2018, Milhomme, Banville et al. have been working to develop a Virtual Care Unit (VCU), using immersive virtual reality, intended to train future nurses to improve their competence towards clinical surveillance process skills. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to determine the pertinence to use VCU simulation with graduating nurses’ students to improve clinical surveillance skills in a critical care context. Thirteen nursing students were recruited to test the scenario through the VCU. Participants were instructed to carry surveillance process on a specific patient who suffer of an instability after a surgery. An interview guide of 11 questions was used for the data collection. The results show there are 10 facilitating and 9 restricting factors in the VCU that may play a role in nursing students’ learning clinical surveillance processes. Among these elements, four of them have an important link with a psychological perspective: 1) sense of presence; 2) cybersickness; 3) reflexive environment; 4) stress reduction. Results show an important contribution of several cognitive function in the clinical surveillance process learning by the virtual reality technology. © 2023, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.
3.
Plouffe-Demers, M. -P.; Saumure, C.; Fiset, D.; Cormier, S.; Blais, C.
Facial Expression of Pain: Sex Differences in the Discrimination of Varying Intensities Journal Article
In: Emotion, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 1254–1266, 2022, ISSN: 15283542 (ISSN), (Publisher: American Psychological Association).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, article, controlled study, data-driven methods, effect size, Empathy, Facial Expression, facial expressions, female, human, human experiment, information processing, male, normal human, Pain, pain intensity, qualitative research, sample size, sex difference, sex differences, vision, visual acuity, visual information, Visual Perception
@article{plouffe-demers_facial_2022,
title = {Facial Expression of Pain: Sex Differences in the Discrimination of Varying Intensities},
author = {M. -P. Plouffe-Demers and C. Saumure and D. Fiset and S. Cormier and C. Blais},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85138214204&doi=10.1037%2femo0001156&partnerID=40&md5=d5063c7ab05722c16694952ac5d53027},
doi = {10.1037/emo0001156},
issn = {15283542 (ISSN)},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Emotion},
volume = {23},
number = {5},
pages = {1254–1266},
publisher = {American Psychological Association},
abstract = {It has been proposed that women are better than men at recognizing emotions and pain experienced by others. They have also been shown to be more sensitive to variations in pain expressions. The objective of the present study was to explore the perceptual basis of these sexual differences by comparing the visual information used by men and women to discriminate between different intensities of pain facial expressions. Using the data-driven Bubbles method, we were able to corroborate the woman advantage in the discrimination of pain intensities that did not appear to be explained by variations in empathic tendencies. In terms of visual strategies, our results do not indicate any qualitative differences in the facial regions used by men and women. However, they suggest that women rely on larger regions of the face that seems to completely mediate their advantage. This utilization of larger clusters could indicate either that women integrate simultaneously and more efficiently information coming from different areas of the face or that they are more flexible in the utilization of the information present in these clusters. Women would then opt for a more holistic or flexible processing of the facial information, while men would rely on a specific yet rigid integration strategy. © 2022 American Psychological Association},
note = {Publisher: American Psychological Association},
keywords = {adult, article, controlled study, data-driven methods, effect size, Empathy, Facial Expression, facial expressions, female, human, human experiment, information processing, male, normal human, Pain, pain intensity, qualitative research, sample size, sex difference, sex differences, vision, visual acuity, visual information, Visual Perception},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
It has been proposed that women are better than men at recognizing emotions and pain experienced by others. They have also been shown to be more sensitive to variations in pain expressions. The objective of the present study was to explore the perceptual basis of these sexual differences by comparing the visual information used by men and women to discriminate between different intensities of pain facial expressions. Using the data-driven Bubbles method, we were able to corroborate the woman advantage in the discrimination of pain intensities that did not appear to be explained by variations in empathic tendencies. In terms of visual strategies, our results do not indicate any qualitative differences in the facial regions used by men and women. However, they suggest that women rely on larger regions of the face that seems to completely mediate their advantage. This utilization of larger clusters could indicate either that women integrate simultaneously and more efficiently information coming from different areas of the face or that they are more flexible in the utilization of the information present in these clusters. Women would then opt for a more holistic or flexible processing of the facial information, while men would rely on a specific yet rigid integration strategy. © 2022 American Psychological Association
4.
Haddouk, L.; Bouchard, S.; Brivio, E.; Galimberti, C.; Trognon, A.
In: Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, vol. 2018, no. 16, pp. 118–123, 2018, ISSN: 15548716 (ISSN), (Publisher: Interactive Media Institute).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Acceptance of psychotherapy setting, adult, article, case report, clinical article, female, human, Intersubjectivity, male, preliminary data, psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychologist, qualitative research, telepresence, Videoconference telepsychotherapy, videoconferencing
@article{haddouk_assessing_2018,
title = {Assessing presence in videoconference telepsychotherapies: A complementary qualitative study on breaks in telepresence and intersubjectivity co-construction processes},
author = {L. Haddouk and S. Bouchard and E. Brivio and C. Galimberti and A. Trognon},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85067880450&partnerID=40&md5=31a955c5f9bbe03b1298ee90768fde91},
issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},
volume = {2018},
number = {16},
pages = {118–123},
publisher = {Interactive Media Institute},
abstract = {Assessing the efficacy of online psychotherapies is an important issue in eHealth. In the present research, we used an innovative approach to focus on the characteristics of breaks in interactions that impact the acceptance of the psychotherapy setting of a telepsychotherapy delivered in videoconference. We also tried to build a method to assess if the level of telepresence in online interactions would be influenced by the acceptance of the psychotherapy setting. Sessions of psychotherapy delivered in videoconference to two adults receiving CBT and two others receiving psychodynamic psychotherapy were analyzed to test the method. In this paper, we describe the methodology and illustrate preliminary results. An interactional grid was used to analyze verbal and non-verbal interactions, physical and social presence, and breaks in acceptance of the telepsychotherapy setting. This led to observe the interactional process of construction of enonciative co-presence, fundamental to allow people to experience intersubjectivity. This study is the first step towards a better understanding of the level of acceptance of the technological setting by patients and its influence on the interactions between them and psychologists. © 2018, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},
note = {Publisher: Interactive Media Institute},
keywords = {Acceptance of psychotherapy setting, adult, article, case report, clinical article, female, human, Intersubjectivity, male, preliminary data, psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychologist, qualitative research, telepresence, Videoconference telepsychotherapy, videoconferencing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Assessing the efficacy of online psychotherapies is an important issue in eHealth. In the present research, we used an innovative approach to focus on the characteristics of breaks in interactions that impact the acceptance of the psychotherapy setting of a telepsychotherapy delivered in videoconference. We also tried to build a method to assess if the level of telepresence in online interactions would be influenced by the acceptance of the psychotherapy setting. Sessions of psychotherapy delivered in videoconference to two adults receiving CBT and two others receiving psychodynamic psychotherapy were analyzed to test the method. In this paper, we describe the methodology and illustrate preliminary results. An interactional grid was used to analyze verbal and non-verbal interactions, physical and social presence, and breaks in acceptance of the telepsychotherapy setting. This led to observe the interactional process of construction of enonciative co-presence, fundamental to allow people to experience intersubjectivity. This study is the first step towards a better understanding of the level of acceptance of the technological setting by patients and its influence on the interactions between them and psychologists. © 2018, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.