Virtual reality exposure therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder in hospitalized patients
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Inpatients
NA · National Institute of Mental Health, Czech Republic · NCT07245134
This trial tests whether adding immersive virtual-reality exposure to standard CBT helps hospitalized people with OCD reduce symptoms more than CBT alone or CBT with VR cognitive training.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 62 (estimated) |
| Ages | 17 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | National Institute of Mental Health, Czech Republic (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Klecany) |
| Trial ID | NCT07245134 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults hospitalized for OCD are randomly assigned to one of three groups: standard CBT plus immersive virtual-reality exposure (VRET), standard CBT plus VR cognitive flexibility training, or standard CBT alone. The VRET uses an "OCD house" environment displayed on HTC Vive Pro headsets where therapists combine and grade virtual stimuli that mimic home triggers across OCD subtypes to guide exposure and response prevention. Therapists can monitor and adjust difficulty in real time while patients interact with objects using hand controllers; treatment effects are measured with pre/post symptom assessments and adherence monitoring. Participants must be fluent in Czech and meet eligibility criteria excluding significant comorbid psychiatric, neurological, or somatic illnesses and contraindications to VR.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Czech‑speaking inpatients with a primary DSM‑5 diagnosis of OCD, without serious comorbid psychiatric or neurological disorders, and without contraindications to VR.
Not a fit: Patients with active substance abuse, epilepsy or balance problems, cardiac implants, pregnancy, or other serious medical/psychiatric comorbidities (or those unable to use VR) are unlikely to benefit or may be excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, VRET could offer a controlled, immersive way for inpatients to practice exposures that may speed symptom reduction and improve treatment adherence.
How similar studies have performed: VR exposure has produced positive results in specific phobias and early OCD pilot studies, but randomized controlled evidence in inpatient OCD settings is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of OCD (F42) using currently valid DSM-V and ICD-11 * Fluent in Czech Exclusion Criteria: * Any other psychiatric, neurological and serious somatic illness * Substance abuse * Psychotropic medication (e.g. benzodiazepines) except antidepressants, antipsychotic medication and hypnotics. * Contradictions to using a virtual reality (e.g., epilepsy, balance problems) * Pregnancy * Cardiostimulator and mental implants
Where this trial is running
Klecany
- National Institute of Mental Health — Klecany, Czechia (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Pavla Stopková, Ph.D. — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study coordinator: Iveta Fajnerová
- Email: Iveta.fajnerova@nudz.cz
- Phone: +420-608501034
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.
Conditions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, Virtual Reality Cognitive Training, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, obsessive-compulsive disorder, VR exposure therapy, cognitive flexibility, Inpatient clinic