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Can VR fun beat the blues? small trial tests virtual activities for depression

NCT ID NCT05525390

Symptom relief Sponsor: Stanford University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether using a virtual reality (VR) headset to do fun activities could help ease depression symptoms. 26 adults with major depression were asked to complete at least four activities each week, either in VR or in real life. Researchers measured changes in depression scores and how willing people were to keep using VR after the study.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Extended reality (VR) headset activities
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a new, engaging way to help people with depression feel better by doing fun activities in virtual reality.
What could go wrong
This was a very small, early study with only 26 people. The results may not apply to everyone, and the effect might be due to the extra attention, not the VR itself.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

26 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Dec 2022

Finished

Jul 2023

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient must meet DSM V criteria for MDD * Patient must be at least 18 years of age * Patient must be English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Substance Use Disorders in past year * Any psychosis or bipolar disorder * Any seizure in the last 6 months or untreated epilepsy * Current nonsuicidal self-injury or parasuicidal behavior * Current suicidal urges and intent * Changing psychotherapy treatment within four months of study entry * Changing psychotropic medication(s) within two months of study entry

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression depressive disorder endogenous depression major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Depression Major depressive disorder MDD

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Stanford University

    Stanford, California, 94304, United States

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