Reducing the Urge to be Physically Active in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa through Virtual Reality: A Randomized-Controlled Feasibility Trial

Reducing the Urge to be Physically Active in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa through Virtual Reality: A Randomized-Controlled Feasibility Trial - PA-AN-VR

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00035681

Enrollment

Registered

2024-12-12

Start date

2025-05-15

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

F50.0

Interventions

Group 1: TAU + VR intervention The VR intervention will be delivered on a weekly basis (twice per week) over the course of the initial four consecutive weeks of treatment-as-usual (TAU)

the intervention procedure comprises eight, 30-minute sessions (20 minutes of exposure + 10 minutes preparation and follow-up). Group 2: TAU + VR control The VR control will be delivered on a weekly b

the control procedure comprises eight, 30-minute sessions (20 minutes of exposure + 10 minutes preparation and follow-up).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: The trial will include patients admitted to inpatient treatment with a diagnosis of restricting or binge-eating/purging type AN according to ICD-10 criteria (i.e., F50.00 and F50.01), with a body mass index (BMI) = 17.5 kg/m², aged 18 years or older, able and willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: We will exclude patients with AN who present with severe comorbid psychiatric or somatic disorders or other conditions that may interfere with study protocol adherence and/or ability to provide informed consent (e.g., severe depression, acute suicidal tendencies, relevant difficulties in spoken and written German).

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Primary outcome paramaters that will be assessed on a per-session basis: Acceptability (System Usability Scale, SUS) Tolerability (Simulation Sickness Questionnaire, SSQ) Adherence (time in minutes of completed VR exposure)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Secondary outcome parameters that will be assessed on a per-session basis: activity urges (State Urge to be Physically Active-Questionnaire, SUPA-Q) Secondary outcome parameters that will be assessed on a weekly basis: eating disorder psychopathology (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, EDE-Q) weekly weight gain (changes in patient BMI in kg/m²)	—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactGeorgios Paslakis

Universitätsklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum

georgios.paslakis@rub.de+49 5741 35 474500

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026