PTSD, PTSD Symptoms
Conditions
Keywords
VR exposure, PTSD symptoms, covid 19
Brief summary
This clinical trial aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy for trauma symptoms related to COVID-19 infection. The intervention targets healthcare workers and individuals from the general population who experienced pandemic-related psychological distress. The study assesses psychological and physiological outcomes, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, HRV, and EEG biomarkers.
Detailed description
The project involves a two-phase clinical study. In Phase 1, VR exposure therapy content is developed based on trauma management theory and tailored to specific participant groups (e.g., COVID-19 survivors, healthcare workers). In Phase 2, randomized controlled trials will compare VR treatment with standard therapy approaches (CBT, supportive therapy) across two populations: Healthcare workers involved in the care of COVID-19 patients Members of the general public affected by social disaster-related psychological distress Participants will undergo 5 weekly sessions of VR exposure therapy. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include standardized psychiatric scales (e.g., PHQ-9, PCL-5), HRV, and EEG measurements. The trial aims to validate the efficacy and safety of customized VR therapy protocols and identify relevant biomarkers for treatment prediction.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALVR Exposure Therapy
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is a form of psychotherapy that uses immersive virtual environments to simulate trauma-related stimuli in a controlled and safe setting, allowing individuals to gradually confront and process distressing memories or triggers. VRET is grounded in prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, a well-established treatment for PTSD and anxiety disorders. In this study, VRET is delivered in 5 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 50 minutes, using a customized VR system. Sessions are tailored based on participant group (e.g., COVID-19 survivor vs. healthcare worker). Each session includes psychoeducation, exposure to individualized trauma-related virtual scenes, and guided emotional processing. The system incorporates eye-tracking, breathing exercises, and real-time subjective distress scaling (SUDs) to monitor engagement and safety.
BEHAVIORALCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Face-to-face CBT with exposure elements, targeting trauma-related symptoms. Administered in 5 weekly sessions.
BEHAVIORALSupportive Psychotherapy
Therapist-led supportive therapy (TAU), focusing on empathy, validation, and emotional support without structured exposure.
Sponsors
Soonchunhyang University Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 64 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18-64, healthy population who survived from COVID-19 (COVID survivors) or Healthcare Workers with PCL-5 ≥10, GAD-7/PHQ-9 ≥10
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy, neurological disorders, severe medical conditions
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in PTSD symptoms | baseline, week 5, 3-mo follow-up | Change in PTSD symptoms (PCL-5/CAPS-5) at baseline, week 5, 3-mo follow-up |
Contacts
Primary ContactJi Sun Kim, MD, PhD
Backup ContactMin Jung Park, RN
Outcome results
None listed