Virtual Reality chairwork for schema therapy in healthy volunteers
Official title: VRAST: Virtual Reality Assisted Schema Therapy
Run by University Medical Center Groningen · NCT07171736 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether using a Virtual Reality chairwork exercise can make schema therapy imagery easier and more impactful for healthy participants who have unmet childhood needs.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 16 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Medical Center Groningen Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Groningen, Provincie Groningen) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 29, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07171736 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are undergrad students or older (16+) who show at least one of the schema modes (Demanding Parent, Punitive Parent, or Vulnerable Child) and are comfortable with Dutch.
✕Probably not a fit
Participants who do not experience changes in engagement or mood after sessions or who do not meet language or schema mode criteria may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial compares a standard imagination-based chairwork exercise with a Virtual Reality version where participants interact with virtual representations of their own parts in a 3D environment. It targets healthy volunteers who may have dominant schema modes and limited imagination. Researchers will assess engagement, ease of imagery, and potential changes in mood or self-perception after the sessions. The study is conducted at University Medical Center Groningen with collaboration from the University of Groningen. Participants must meet language and age criteria and exhibit certain schema modes to enroll.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, VR chairwork could make schema therapy techniques more accessible and effective for individuals who struggle with imagination.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests VR can enhance experiential therapies, but results for VR chairwork in schema therapy are exploratory and follow-up data are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Undergraduate student * 16 years or older * A score of ≥ 3 on (at least) one of the schema modes (Demanding Parent, Punitive Parent, and/or Vulnerable Child) Exclusion Criteria: * Insufficient command of the Dutch Language
Where it's running
-
Umcg
Groningen, Provincie Groningen, Netherlands Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.