NCT07191288

Assessing the Acute Effects of Virtual Reality Interventions on Stress

Assessing the Acute Effects of Virtual Reality Interventions on Stress: A Four-Arm RCT

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Prof. Dominique de Quervain, MD · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

A Four-Arm RCT, testing the acute effects of a Virtual Reality (VR)- based slow-paced breathing intervention on subjective and physiological markers of stress. The investigator hypothesize that combining slow breathing with immersive, mystical-type VR elements will result in the greatest stress reduction.

Conditions

• Slow Breathing

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	VR (VR-Breathing+Mystical)	The VR-based slow-paced breathing application is designed to provide rewarding biofeedback for a specific breathing pattern characterized by prolonged exhales. As users extend their exhales, a veil of fog gradually lifts, introducing a mystical type experience. Over time, users are rewarded with a full 360-degree panoramic view of the beautiful nature scene, accompanied by relaxing music. After approximately 5 minutes of prolonged exhales, the nature scene responds to the user's breathing by slowing down, with falling snowflakes moving more slowly, further enhancing the mystical atmosphere. This intervention was designed to be visually captivating, mystically evocative, and emotionally engaging. Duration: 10 minutes.
DEVICE	VR (VR-Mystical)	Users will experience the gradual unveiling of a beautiful natural landscape as the fog lifts, and eventually, the scene slows down similar to the VR Breathing+Mystical condition. However, this application does not provide any biofeedback or breathing instructions. Users are invited to passively observe the unfolding experience, immersing themselves in the environment for 10 minutes. Relaxing music accompanies the scene. This condition relies solely on the immersive and aesthetic qualities of the virtual environment to potentially induce relaxation.
DEVICE	Computer (Non-VR-Breathing)	In this conventional breathing intervention, participants will be instructed to follow a slow-paced breathing pattern guided by a simple visual cue (an expanding and contracting circle) displayed on a computer screen for 10 minutes. This condition is designed to guide slow-paced breathing without incorporating any rewarding elements.
DRUG	VR (VR-Control)	In the control condition, participants will watch a neutral documentary for 10 minutes in VR. This condition is used to control for the effects of the immersive VR experience. It does not include any components related to guided breathing or mystical-type content, or any form of rewarding elements.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-08
• Primary completion: 2026-06-30
• Completion: 2026-06-30
• First posted: 2025-09-24
• Last updated: 2025-12-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland