Design and preliminary evaluation of AYRE: A virtual reality-based intervention for the treatment of emotional disorders

Difficulties in emotional regulation are a key transdiagnostic challenge in mental health, contributing to the development and maintenance of anxiety and depression. Virtual reality (VR)-based interventions have emerged as promising tools to enhance emotional skills through immersive and interactive environments. This study presents a preliminary evaluation of Assistance for Emotional Regulation (AYRE), an innovative VR intervention that integrates mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation; three evidence-based techniques combined for the first time in a fully immersive therapeutic setting. A total of 123 adults from the Dominican Republic (mean age = 28.4 years; 62.6 % women) participated in the study. The intervention consisted of a single 1-hour AYRE session, delivered in a controlled laboratory setting at the university. The study followed a pre–post design without a control group, with anxiety and depressive symptoms assessed immediately before and after the intervention. After a single AYRE session, participants reported meaningful reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Regression analyses showed that higher baseline levels of anxiety and depression were the only significant predictors of post-intervention improvement. Participants evaluated AYRE positively, describing the experience as “calming,” “intuitive,” and “more engaging than traditional techniques.” These impressions support AYRE’s feasibility and user acceptability in real-world settings. In conclusion, AYRE appears to be a promising and scalable digital tool for supporting emotional regulation. Its integration of validated techniques into a personalized and immersive VR environment suggests potential for complementing traditional mental health interventions and improving access to care in underserved contexts.