Feasibility study of a VR-assisted psychological intervention -V1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A feasibility study on the utility of a Virtual Reality (VR) assisted CBT intervention for adolescents with emotional dysregulation

• IRAS ID

  261496

• Contact name

  Shihning Chou

• Contact email

  shihning.chou@nottingham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  This study is a feasibility study investigating the utility of a virtual reality intervention for empathy, anger management and emotion regulation with emotionally dysregulated adolescents in conflict with the criminal justice system.
  The study will include two groups; a virtual reality-assisted intervention group and a CBT comparison intervention group. Both provide 10 weeks of therapy either in the form of virtual reality which is based on a CBT framework targeting emotionally dysregulated adolescents or standard CBT therapy for anger management and emotion regulation.
  Participants will be required for 14 weeks (13 weeks if CBT participant). Their participation will take place at the secure home with which they are currently residing. Two sites will be used; Kyloe House (Netherton Park, Stannington, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 6DE) and Aycliffe House (Copelaw, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 6JB).
  Broadly, therapy is the topic at hand being studied.
  Sample: adolescents between 13 and 18 years old, both male and female who reside within secure children's homes.
  Inclusion criteria: must...
  - have the ability and capacity to give informed consent (assessed by their responsible clinician independent to the research)
  - be between 13 and 18 years old, either male or female.
  - be identified as having problems with emotion regulation or/and anger.
  - have the physical capabilities, full mobility in their hands, their neck and head to use the VR technology.

  Exclusion Criteria: must not...:
  - have completed CBT informed anger management therapy previously.
  - suffer from motion sickness or vertigo.
  - have any ear infections, or hearing impairment of any severity.
  - suffer from or have any history of epilepsy.
  - have any pre-existing binocular vision abnormalities
  - suffer from or have history of epilepsy
  - have any heart conditions or a pacemaker
  - be pregnant

• REC name

  East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/EM/0306

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Nov 2019

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion