Design and validation of Virtual Reality software package with real images for treatment of attention defcit disorder symptoms Vol 22, No. 3, Autumn 2020 Pages 79-94 Advances in Cognitive Sciences Research Article Recieved: 11 Mar. 2019 Revised: 5 Apr. 2020 Accepted: 21 Apr. 2020 Keywords Virtual reality Attention defcit disorder (ADD) Virtual therapy Corresponding author Javad Rasti, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Depart- ment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Email: Rasti@eng.ui.ac.ir Abstract 79 Fattaneh Khojastebakht 1 , Javad Rasti 2* , Mahgol Tavakoli 3 , Nasibeh Sarrami Foroushani 4 1. MSc of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 2. Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 3. Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 4. PhD Student of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Humanistic and Basic Science Faculty, Yazd Science and Art University, Yazd, Iran Introduction: The inability to concentrate on a specifc topic in the presence of distracting factors is of evident symptoms of Attention Defcit Disorder (ADD). Controlled simulation of such factors through immersion in real environments by Virtual Reality (VR) technology can be effective to improve attention. The study aims to design and validate a VR-based software package to decrease the effect of distraction factors and improve ADD symptoms. Methods: The VR-based software package comprises 18 short panoramic footages with pre-determined scenarios, each of which includes the main topic and some irrelevant distracting factors. The intervention procedure includes watching two footages per session and answering the related questions. For content validation, fve attention psychotherapists and fve VR experts were selected on purpose, and after applying their revisory comments, the results of the validation questionnaires were analyzed to obtain the Cohen’s Kappa coeffcient. For introductory intervention, the population comprised all female students with ADD in grade six of the elementary school in 2017-18 academic years in Isfahan, Iran. A limited sample of 14 people was selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to equal experimental and control groups. The intervention was carried out for the experimental group in nine sessions, while the control group was on the waiting list. All subjects’ parents completed the SNAP-IV questionnaires before and after the intervention period, and the results were analyzed the using non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test in SPSS-23. Results: Cohen’s Kappa coeffcient of 0.83 shows acceptable content validity. The Mann–Whitney U test indicated the effec- tiveness of VR-based software package on improving attention in students with ADD (F=-3.232, P=0.001). Conclusion: Simulating real distracting factors in an immersive VR platform can lead to an improvement in attention and reduce ADD symptoms. Moreover, customizing the virtual environment based on the subject’s demands can provide an ideal therapy plan. doi.org/10.30699/icss.22.3.79 Citation: Khojastebakht F, Rasti J, Tavakoli M, Sarrami Foroushani N. Design and validation of Virtual Reality software package with Real images for treatment of attention defcit disorder symptoms. Advances in Cognitive Sciences. 2020;22(3):79-94.