title: Virtual help for real surgery: the case of awake surgery.
abstract: Awake surgery can be highly stressful for patients. In fact, being awake, patients could perceive that the environmental demands are taxing or exceed their adaptive abilities. We proposed the use of Virtual Reality as a functional and effective tool for a new class of clinical applications aimed at helping patients to cope with these specific stressful situations. Using coping skills that have been learnt during the virtual experience, patients can reduce their psychological stress and improve their collaboration and - in general - the outcome of the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piancavallo-Verbania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albani
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cipresso
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaggioli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serino
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigna
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Priano
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003198:Computer Simulation; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface