Virtual reality group therapy for depression

Virtual Reality Group Therapy for Depression: A proof of concept feasibility study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN14178068

Enrollment

Registered

2020-09-03

Start date

2020-10-10

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2021-03-30

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

Conditions

Mild to moderate depression Mental and Behavioural Disorders Mild to moderate depression

Interventions

Virtual reality will be used to deliver and receive group therapy remotely. The patients and the therapist will access the group at home using a head-mounted display with smartphone insertion and an

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Referral from primary care for the treatment of mild to moderate depression (stepped 2). 2. No history of ongoing suicidal attempts or current tendency towards self-harm 3. Able to understand written and verbal English 4. Eligible for group therapy 5. Aged =18 years 6. Access to a smartphone 7. Access to Wi-Fi at home 8. Has an email account 9. Capacity to give consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Unwilling or unable to give consent 2. Having a diagnosis of depression with psychotic symptoms (ICD-10: F32.3 and F33.3) 3. Associated diagnosis of an organic or neurodevelopmental disorder 4. Participation in another trial

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Functionality and feasibility of the intervention calculated using the following: 1.1. Recruitment rates collected using an excel recruitment spreadsheet at the end of recruitment. 1.2. Treatment attendance rates collected using treatment adherence log between baseline and 8 weeks 1.3. Reasons for drop-out collected using treatment adherence log between baseline and 8 weeks 1.4. Interest in VR treatment collected using interest in VR questions at baseline/enrolment and 8 weeks 1.5. Therapeutic relationship using the Working Alliance Inventory at 8 weeks or point of drop-out. 1.6. Acceptability using a client satisfaction questionnaire at 8 weeks or at point of drop out. 2. Self-reported measure of depression measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will be collected at baseline, before each treatment session at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 weeks, and post-intervention after 8 weeks.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Functionality and feasibility of the intervention calculated using the following: 1.1. Recruitment rates collected using an excel recruitment spreadsheet at the end of recruitment. 1.2. Treatment attendance rates collected using treatment adherence log between baseline and 8 weeks 1.3. Reasons for drop-out collected using treatment adherence log between baseline and 8 weeks 1.4. Interest in VR treatment collected using interest in VR questions at baseline/enrolment and 8 weeks 1.5. Therapeutic relationship using the Working Alliance Inventory at 8 weeks or point of drop-out. 1.6. Acceptability using a client satisfaction questionnaire at 8 weeks or at point of drop out. 2. Self-reported measure of depression measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will be collected at baseline, before each treatment session at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 weeks, and post-intervention after 8 weeks.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. User experiences of VRGT explored qualitatively through interviews at 8 weeks	—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

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