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Virtual Reality Interventions for the Improvement of Depression, Anxiety and Pain in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and Caregivers

NCT06985784 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2025-11-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This clinical trial tests how well a three-dimensional (3D) mindfulness virtual reality (VR) versus (vs) two-dimensional (2D) non-immersive interventions works in improving depression, anxiety, pain, and/or stress in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiation or chemoradiation (C/RT), and their caregivers. HNC patients undergoing C/RT can experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, distress and pain that negatively impact their quality of life. VR allows for a realistic experience and works as an effective distraction tool from the state of pain or anxiety without use of drugs and with minimal associated risk to patients. VR has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and pain in non-cancer patients, however there is limited evidence of how well VR use works in cancer patients, especially in patients undergoing C/RT for HNC. Caregivers of these patients also experience high levels of anxiety and distress. Using VR interventions may improve depression, anxiety, pain and/or stress in patients with HNC undergoing C/RT and their caregivers.

Conditions

  • Head and Neck Carcinoma

Interventions

OTHER

Interview

Ancillary studies

OTHER

Medical Device Usage and Evaluation

Wear a Fitbit

OTHER

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

OTHER

Virtual Technology Intervention

Receive 3D mindfulness VR headset

OTHER

Virtual Technology Intervention

Receive 2D non-immersive VR headset

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    collaborator NIH

  • City of Hope Medical Center

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Krupal Patel · City of Hope Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-06-25
Primary Completion
2027-11-09
Completion
2027-11-09

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06985784 on ClinicalTrials.gov