Using virtual reality to help healthcare workers with PTSD
Piloting Virtual Reality Environments to Treat PTSD in Healthcare Workers
This study is testing a virtual reality program to see if it can help healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients with PTSD feel better after experiencing trauma on the job.
Quick facts
| Phase | Early Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Weill Medical College of Cornell University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT04887116 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to develop and test a virtual reality environment designed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients who have experienced occupational-related trauma. The approach utilizes virtual reality exposure therapy, which has a history of effectiveness in treating PTSD by allowing patients to confront and process their traumatic experiences in a controlled setting. Participants will be assessed for PTSD symptoms and other psychological issues through structured clinical interviews and self-report measures. The goal is to provide a novel therapeutic option for those affected by the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include English-speaking healthcare workers or COVID-19 patients aged 18 and older who have been diagnosed with PTSD or sub-threshold PTSD and are medically stable.
Not a fit: Patients with significant unstable medical illnesses, current suicidal or homicidal risks, or those with a history of psychotic disorders may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the mental health and quality of life for healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients suffering from PTSD.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success in using virtual reality for PTSD treatment in military veterans and first responders, indicating potential for this approach in healthcare workers.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * A COVID-19 patient or any healthcare worker providing medical care or support who experiences occupational-related trauma * English-speaking * Age ≥18 * Medically stable * Diagnosed with PTSD or sub threshold PTSD * Ability to provide informed consent and function at an intellectual level sufficient to allow accurate completion of all assessment instruments * Stable on psychotropic medication for the prior 60 days Exclusion Criteria: * Current significant unstable medical illness such that the participant could not attend sessions regularly or complete assessments * Patients who in the investigator's judgment pose a current homicidal, suicidal or other risk * Lifetime or Current diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder * Participation in a clinical trial or concurrent evidence-based treatment for psychiatric conditions or PTSD during the previous 3 months * History of motion sickness or seizures
Where this trial is running
New York, New York
- Weill Cornell Medicine — New York, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: JoAnn Difede, PhD — Weill Medical College of Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Isabelle McLeod Daphnis, BS
- Email: sum4009@med.cornell.edu
- Phone: 3108256016
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.