Immersive Virtual Reality–Assisted Therapy for Distressing Voices in Psychosis: Qualitative Study of Participants’ and Therapists’ Experiences in the Challenge Trial
The study provided comprehensive insights into trial participants' and therapists' experiences of VRT in the Challenge trial. Findings share several similarities with qualitative research on other relational therapies for distressing voices and highlight VRT's potential for positive change. Key considerations for future research and implementation include monitoring anxiety and voice reactions, ensuring operational reliability of hardware and software, and addressing the additional effort required by therapists, which may be unsustainable in routine practice. As a demanding intervention, the successful implementation of VRT will require adequate training, supervision, and structural support.
Authors
- Ditte Lammers Vernal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5096-2281)
- Imogen Bell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7567-0517)
- Lisa Charlotte Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5231-7750)
- Lise Mariegaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4448-6152)
- Jan Mainz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0242-9233)
- Thomas Ward (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7608-5755)
- Merete Nordentoft (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4895-7023)
- Rikke Jørgensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4911-0502)
- Neil Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-6361)
- Louise Birkedal Glenthøj (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3621-8450)
- Mads Juul Christensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2788-5642)
- Matilde Poulsen Rydborg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0110-0895)
- Cecilie Dueholm Nielsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4208-2522)
Institutions
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- King's College London (GB)
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Aalborg University Hospital (DK)
- Mental Health Services (DK)
- The Alfred Hospital (AU)
- North Denmark Region (DK)
- Orygen Youth Health (AU)
- Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
- Aalborg University (DK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- JMIR Serious Games
- Published
- 2025-12-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2196/77920
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.94
Funders
- Innovationsfonden