Effects and Acceptability of a 1-Week Home-Based Virtual Reality Training for Supporting the Management of Stress and Anxiety: Randomized Pilot Trial (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.50326
• Publication Date: 2025-03-06T21:35:06Z
• Authors: Federica Pallavicini; Eleonora Orena; Lisa Arnoldi; Federica Achille; Stefano Stefanini; Maddalena Cassa; Alessandro Pepe; Guido Veronese; Luca Bernardelli; Francesca Sforza; Sara Fascendini; Carlo Alberto Def...; Marco Gemma; Massimo Clerici; Giuseppe Riva; Fabrizia Mantovani
• Keywords: Preprint; Stress Management

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Virtual reality (VR) is helpful for the management of stress and anxiety. However, current interventions have limitations related to location (ie, therapist’s office or hospitals) content virtual experiences only relaxation). </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This randomized pilot trial aims investigate efficacy acceptability a brief remote VR-based training supporting anxiety in sample Italian health care workers. <title>METHODS</title> A total 29 doctors nurses (n=21; 72% female; mean age 35.6, SD 10.3 years) were recruited VR intervention group control passive condition. Participants assigned received consisting 3 sessions at home delivered 1 week using psychoeducational experience “MIND-VR” 360° relaxing video “The Secret Garden.” The primary outcome measures stress, anxiety, depression, knowledge assessed baseline posttreatment. We also evaluated immediate effect on perceived state negative positive emotions. secondary measure was usability system content. <title>RESULTS</title> significantly reduced levels as by Perceived Stress Scale (6.46, 95% CI 2.77 10.5; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.046) increased ad hoc questionnaire adopted (–2.09, –3.86 –0.529; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.046). home-based did not yield similar reductions depression Depression, Anxiety, Scale-21 items trait through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-1. After with VR, there significant decrease anger, sadness an increase happiness levels. Analyses questionnaires indicated that workers found easy without adverse effects cybersickness. Of 33 participants, (88%) adhered protocol. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> results this study suggest week-long intervention, created specifically purpose available free charge, can help individuals manage encouraging further research investigating potential support mental health. <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04611399; https://tinyurl.com/scxunprd