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Behavioural Intervention

Virtual Reality for Depression in Alzheimer's Disease (VRN Trial)

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Eric Brown, MD
Research Sponsored by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Age of 50 years or older
Have someone available to be present during all sessions
Must not have
Visual or hearing impairments that would impair participation
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 4 weeks
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial aims to test the use of virtual reality (VR) technology at home to help older adults with dementia who have behavioural and psychological symptoms. The study will involve a 4-week program with short

Who is the study for?
This trial is for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease who are experiencing depression. It's designed to test if nature-based virtual reality (VR) can help reduce their symptoms without needing to leave home. Caregivers of participants may also join the study.
What is being tested?
Participants will use a VR program at home, featuring nature scenes, for four weeks—15 minutes per session, twice a week—to see if it helps with depression related to dementia.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this intervention uses VR technology and videos, potential side effects might include dizziness or nausea due to motion sickness, eye strain from screen exposure, and possibly disorientation.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
I am 50 years old or older.
Select...
I have someone who can be with me for all my treatment sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I do not have severe visual or hearing impairments.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~4 weeks
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 4 weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Acceptability of nature-based virtual reality
Feasibility of nature-based virtual reality
Tolerability of nature-based virtual reality
Secondary study objectives
Depression in AD-D
Other study objectives
AD-D exploratory outcome - calmness
AD-D exploratory outcome - loneliness
AD-D exploratory outcome - nature relatedness
+9 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Treatment GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will receive nature-based applications available on the Oculus platform, as well as nature-based 360 videos with the same content as the control group however in a 360 format.
Group II: Control GroupActive Control1 Intervention
Participants will receive YouTube links to watch nature-based videos on a device (e.g., a tablet).

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthLead Sponsor
375 Previous Clinical Trials
82,837 Total Patients Enrolled
St. Mary's Research Center, CanadaOTHER
10 Previous Clinical Trials
1,735 Total Patients Enrolled
Eric Brown, MDPrincipal InvestigatorCAMH and UofT
HARMEHR SEKHON, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorCAMH and McGill/St. Mary's Research Centre
~33 spots leftby Jun 2025