Virtual reality group therapy for depression V2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virtual Reality Group Therapy for Depression: A proof of concept study
IRAS ID
287460
Contact name
Merve Dilgul
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
QMUL
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN14178068
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background: Non-attendance to group therapy is a significant issue for patients with depression. To improve access to group therapy, the NHS has recommended the use of digitally enabled therapies (e.g. mobile application-based self-help). These therapies aim to reduce: 1) cost of services, 2) time and travel associated with treatment, and 3) the perceived stigma of having to go to a treatment centre.
Virtual reality (VR) is ‘a technological interface that allows users to experience computer-generated environments within a controlled setting’ (Maples-Keller et al., 2017). Users can access these computer-generated environments by inserting their smartphone into a head-mounted display (HMD), e.g. Samsung Gear VR. This technology is a feasible, acceptable and cost-effective tool in the treatment of several different mental health disorders.
The intervention: VR will be used to deliver and receive group therapy remotely. The patients and the therapist will access the group at home using a HMD with smartphone insertion and an online application called vTime (vTime, Limited, 2018). During group therapy, the therapists and the patients would be anonymous and represented by an avatar (an abstract character). The VR group therapy sessions will consist of 3 patients and one therapist. The treatment will consist of 8 sessions delivered once a week for 45 minutes.
Aims: To assess the functionality, feasibility and acceptability of the VR Group Therapy intervention.
Methods: The proof-of-concept study will adopt a repeated measures design. A single sample of six-eight patients will be asked to complete the same measures pre- and post-intervention. Then, to assess the feasibility and acceptability of VRGT, the patients will be invited to take part in a semi-structured interview.
Analysis: Descriptive statistics will be performed on qualitative data. Existing group treatment parameters will be used to benchmark feasibility and acceptability against. Content analysis will be performed on interview transcripts.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/1246
Date of REC Opinion
29 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion