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Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Adolescent Inpatients

NCT07709468 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 90

Last updated 2026-07-16

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a therapist-guided virtual reality (VR)-based intervention can improve emotion regulation in adolescents receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment. The study will also assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the intervention, as well as explore factors that may predict treatment response.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the VR-based intervention improve emotion regulation compared with a VR relaxation control intervention? Does the intervention reduce sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and related psychological symptoms? Which behavioral, physiological, and speech-based measures are associated with treatment response?

Researchers will compare a personalized VR exposure intervention with a VR relaxation control intervention. Both groups will receive treatment as usual during their inpatient stay.

Participants will:

Be randomly assigned to either the VR exposure or the VR relaxation group. Complete questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and clinical assessments before and after the intervention, with a follow-up assessment approximately three months later.

Participate in weekly therapist-guided VR sessions throughout their inpatient treatment.

Complete additional assessments including speech recordings and standardized behavioral tasks to investigate predictors and mechanisms of treatment response.

Throughout the study, participants will be monitored for adverse events and tolerability of the VR intervention.

Conditions

  • Emotion Regulation Disorders

Interventions

DEVICE

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

The intervention consists of therapist-guided, individualized virtual reality (VR) exposure sessions delivered as an adjunct to treatment as usual during inpatient psychiatric care. Personalized VR scenarios are created using standardized 360° environments based on each participant's individual emotional and environmental triggers. Sessions include graded exposure, with therapists adapting the intensity and complexity of the scenarios according to treatment progress and individual needs. The intervention is delivered several times a week throughout the inpatient stay by trained therapists. The VR intervention is intended to improve emotion regulation by providing repeated, controlled exposure to clinically relevant situations within a safe and structured therapeutic environment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
11 Years
Max Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-08-04
Primary Completion
2030-07-31
Completion
2030-10-31

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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 NCT07709468 on ClinicalTrials.gov