Virtual reality program to reduce aggression in young offenders
Official title: Virtual Reality Intervention (VR--GINSO) for Reducing Aggression in Young Offenders
Run by Universidad Francisco de Vitoria · NCT07484919 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether adding virtual reality to a four-session intervention helps reduce aggressive behavior in 12–18-year-old juvenile offenders more than the same intervention without VR or their usual treatment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 14 Years to 19 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 110 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Universidad Francisco de Vitoria Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Cominity of Madrid) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2026 |
| Study ends | November 2026 |
| Registry record updated | October 26, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07484919 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 12–18-year-old youths in residential or custodial settings with recent documented aggressive behavior, fluent in Spanish, and expected to remain in the facility for at least six months.
✕Probably not a fit
Those with neurological disorders, brain injury, psychiatric conditions that affect cognition or contraindicate VR, or who are not fluent in Spanish (and community-based youth who cannot attend in-person sessions) are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized interventional project compares three groups: usual treatment plus a four-session intervention with virtual reality (VR), the same intervention without VR, and usual treatment only. Participants are 12–18-year-old youth with documented recent aggressive behavior who attend four weekly individual sessions of 1–1.5 hours in addition to their ongoing care. Outcomes include changes in aggressive behavior, anger, impulsivity, emotion regulation, conflict understanding, and related cognitive and physiological markers. The trial is run at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid) using standardized behavioral measures and controlled VR scenarios to see if the VR component provides added benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the VR-enhanced program could reduce aggressive incidents and improve emotional control and conflict handling, potentially lowering future reoffending among participating young people.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small studies and pilot programs have used VR for anger management and social skills with promising but preliminary results, so this approach builds on limited prior evidence rather than a large established literature.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 14-19 years old at the moment of recruitment and allocation. * Minimum facility stay of 6 months since the begining of the study. * Documented records of recent aggresive behavior. Exclusion Criteria: * Neurological disorder, brain injury, or psyquiatric pathology that affects cognitive functions or advises against use of virtual reality. * Not being fluent in Spanish.
Where it's running
-
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Pozuelo de Alarcón, Cominity of Madrid, Spain Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David Roncero Villarreal, PhD — Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
- Study coordinator: David Roncero Villarreal, PhD
- Email: david.roncero@ufv.es
- Phone: +34 657518370
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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.