2.3. Procedures
NDC, EG-DC
A nonrandomized interventional comparison study was carried out, including pre-treatment assessment (T1), treatment (T2), and post-treatment assessment (T3).Pre-treatment assessment (T1): In the pre-treatment phase, all of the patients (M-NCD due to DC or NDC in both EG and CG) were assessed by means of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, administered by a clinical psychologist who was blinded to the aims of the study, in order to evaluate global mental functioning, executive functioning, memory, and daily living activities. The battery included the MMSE [Treatment (T2): At T2, both EG-DC and EG-NDC were administered the VRT, with five sessions per week over a period of two weeks. We chose to provide only 10 sessions, based on the results of our previous study [Post-treatment assessment (T3): At T3, a second administration of the in vivo test was repeated for the EG (both DC and NDC) and the CG (both DC and NDC). A satisfaction questionnaire arranged in our institute was administered only to the participants who performed the VRT. It included 14 questions: part I (8 questions) focused on the system usability and satisfaction, while part II (6 questions) focused on the technological problems and the negative feelings and symptoms. Single scores ranged from 0 = low to 2 = high. Part I total scores ranging from 0 to 4 were considered to indicate low satisfaction; scores from 5 to 8 indicated low-to-moderate satisfaction; scores from 9 to 12 indicated moderate-to-high satisfaction; and scores from 13 to 16 indicated high satisfaction. Part II total scores ranging from 0 to 3 indicated a low level of problems; scores from 4 to 6 indicated low-to-moderate problems; scores from 7 to 9 indicated moderate-to-high problems; and scores from 10 to 12 indicated a high level of problems.