Boosting enjoyment and positive feelings using virtual reality

Virtual Reality Training Study

This trial tests whether a virtual-reality training that teaches people to savor positive experiences can increase positive affect in adults with depression and low positive affect.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Los Angeles, California)
• Trial ID: NCT07219875 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized Phase 2 trial will enroll 80 adults with depression and low positive affect and assign them to seven weeks of either Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) or an active control, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT). VR-RT uses immersive positive VR scenes followed by guided imaginal recounting to strengthen reward anticipation and initial reward response, while VR-MT focuses on memory practice. Participants complete in-person VR sessions, laboratory assessments, and self-report questionnaires at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and a week-12 follow-up. Statistical analyses will compare changes in positive affect and related clinical outcomes between the two groups and examine whether target engagement correlates with symptom change.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with depression, low positive affect, and functional impairment who meet the study cutoffs (DASS-21 depression ≥8, PANAS-P ≤27, WSAS ≥11), are fluent in English, and are not taking psychotropic medications are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with a lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, intellectual disability, recent substance use disorder, current psychotropic medication use, pregnancy, frequent motion sickness, recent seizures, or epilepsy are excluded and unlikely to be helped by this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase positive affect and reward sensitivity, which may improve functioning and depressive symptoms.

How similar studies have performed: Other reward- and positivity-focused interventions have shown promising early results, but VR-based reward training is a newer approach with limited prior large-scale testing.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. At least 18 years old
2. Fluent in written and spoken English
3. Meet all of the following dimensional score cutoffs:

   1. Score on the DASS-21 depression subscale must be ≥ 8
   2. Score on the PANAS-P of 27 or lower
   3. Score on the WSAS of ≥ 11

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation, or organic brain damage
2. Substance use disorder in the past 6 months
3. Current use of psychotropic medications
4. Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant
5. Self-reported frequent motion sickness
6. Self-reported seizures within the last year and/or a diagnosis of epilepsy

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California

• University of California, Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)

Conditions Positive Affect; Depression