Can a VR headset calm brain tumor Patients' anxiety?

NCT ID NCT04301089

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether using a virtual reality (VR) headset at home could help reduce anxiety and distress in adults with primary brain tumors. Sixty-one participants used the VR headset for 4 weeks and filled out symptom questionnaires. The goal was to see if this approach is practical and acceptable for patients.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: virtual reality headset with relaxation software
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to ease anxiety and improve mood for people with brain tumors during clinic visits.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early feasibility study with only 61 participants. It tested whether VR is practical, not whether it definitively reduces anxiety. Results may not apply to all patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety anxiety disorder brain cancer primary brain neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ANXIETY

Contacts and locations

Locations

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

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