NCT07213596

Virtual Reality Treatment for Trauma Related to COVID-19 Infection

Development of Virtual Reality Treatment Technology to Treat Trauma Related to COVID-19 Infection

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Soonchunhyang University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 64 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This clinical trial aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy for trauma symptoms related to COVID-19 infection. The intervention targets healthcare workers and individuals from the general population who experienced pandemic-related psychological distress. The study assesses psychological and physiological outcomes, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, HRV, and EEG biomarkers.

Detailed description

The project involves a two-phase clinical study. In Phase 1, VR exposure therapy content is developed based on trauma management theory and tailored to specific participant groups (e.g., COVID-19 survivors, healthcare workers). In Phase 2, randomized controlled trials will compare VR treatment with standard therapy approaches (CBT, supportive therapy) across two populations: Healthcare workers involved in the care of COVID-19 patients Members of the general public affected by social disaster-related psychological distress Participants will undergo 5 weekly sessions of VR exposure therapy. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include standardized psychiatric scales (e.g., PHQ-9, PCL-5), HRV, and EEG measurements. The trial aims to validate the efficacy and safety of customized VR therapy protocols and identify relevant biomarkers for treatment prediction.

Conditions

• PTSD
• PTSD Symptoms

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	VR Exposure Therapy	Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is a form of psychotherapy that uses immersive virtual environments to simulate trauma-related stimuli in a controlled and safe setting, allowing individuals to gradually confront and process distressing memories or triggers. VRET is grounded in prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, a well-established treatment for PTSD and anxiety disorders. In this study, VRET is delivered in 5 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 50 minutes, using a customized VR system. Sessions are tailored based on participant group (e.g., COVID-19 survivor vs. healthcare worker). Each session includes psychoeducation, exposure to individualized trauma-related virtual scenes, and guided emotional processing. The system incorporates eye-tracking, breathing exercises, and real-time subjective distress scaling (SUDs) to monitor engagement and safety.
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)	Face-to-face CBT with exposure elements, targeting trauma-related symptoms. Administered in 5 weekly sessions.
BEHAVIORAL	Supportive Psychotherapy	Therapist-led supportive therapy (TAU), focusing on empathy, validation, and emotional support without structured exposure.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2027-07-31
• First posted: 2025-10-09
• Last updated: 2025-10-09