Virtual Reality Intervention for Domestic Violence
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University
Disqualifiers: Under 18, Not violent crime victim
Approved in 1 Jurisdiction
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?
The overall aim of the proposed project is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of Brief Violence Intervention-Virtual Reality (BVI-VR) for reducing firearm-related violence, re-injury, and mortality among victims of violence. Outcome measures of firearm-related violence will come from multiple sources, including criminal background checks, hospital data, state-level data, semi-structured clinical assessments, and self-report assessments. In addition, the study aims to understand the impact of BVI-VR on psychosocial mediators resulting in a reduction of firearm-related violence. This will include self-report surveys, neurocognitive assessments, and clinical assessments. The economic efficiency of BVI-VR as a firearm-related violence intervention will also evaluated. To achieve these aims, a randomized control trial (RCT) in a large sample of violently injured adults (18+ years) from VCU Health will be conducted.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Brief Violence Intervention VR (BVI-VR) for domestic violence?
How is the BVI-VR treatment for domestic violence unique?
The BVI-VR treatment is unique because it uses virtual reality to immerse participants in different perspectives, such as that of a victim or bystander, to improve empathy and train non-violent responses. This approach is novel compared to traditional methods, as it leverages virtual embodiment to influence emotional and behavioral changes.26789
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults who have been injured due to violence and are at VCU Health. It's designed to see if a new virtual reality program can help reduce gun-related violence, re-injury, or death in these individuals. The study will exclude certain participants based on criteria not specified here.Inclusion Criteria
Violently injured patients from VCU's Level 1 Trauma Center
I am 18 years old or older.
I can speak English.
Exclusion Criteria
I am under 18 years old.
Not a victim of violent crime
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Intervention
Participants undergo the Brief Violence Intervention-Virtual Reality (BVI-VR) program, which includes psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and motivational goal setting.
30 minutes
1 visit (in-person)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for firearm-related violence, re-injury, and mortality through self-report surveys, hospital data, and criminal background checks.
6 months
3 visits (virtual)
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Brief Violence Intervention VR (BVI-VR) (Behavioural Intervention)
Trial OverviewThe study tests a Virtual Reality intervention called BVI-VR against the usual treatment methods (TAU) to prevent further gun-related incidents among violently injured adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: Intervention GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Patients randomized into the BVI-VR group will answer questions about the session content and the rationale for the content. Their responses will provide an estimate of engagement providing a better understanding of treatment fidelity.
Group II: Treatment as Usual (TAU) GroupPlacebo Group1 Intervention
The treatment-as-usual (TAU) group will receive a community resource brochure (the same one that is provided at the end of BVI-VR). This brochure provides contact detail for services in the local area.
Brief Violence Intervention VR (BVI-VR) is already approved in United States for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as BVI-VR for:
- Firearm-related violence prevention
- Re-injury prevention
- Mortality prevention among victims of violence
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityLead Sponsor
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCollaborator
References
Review of Virtual Reality Treatment in Psychiatry: Evidence Versus Current Diffusion and Use. [2018]This review provides an overview of the current evidence base for and clinical applications of the use of virtual reality (VR) in psychiatric practice, in context of recent technological developments.
On the Practical Use of Immersive Virtual Reality for Rehabilitation of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators in Prison. [2022]Virtual reality (VR) allows the user to be immersed in environments in which they can experience situations and social interactions from different perspectives by means of virtual embodiment. In the context of rehabilitation of violent behaviors, a participant could experience a virtual violent confrontation from different perspectives, including that of the victim and bystanders. This approach and other virtual scenes can be used as a useful tool for the rehabilitation of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators, through improvement of their empathic skills or for training in non-violent responses. In this perspective, we revise and discuss the use of this tool in a prison environment for the rehabilitation of IPV perpetrators with a particular focus on practical aspects based on our experience.
Virtual reality gaming as a neurorehabilitation tool for brain injuries in adults: A systematic review. [2021]Evidence of the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in motor and cognitive rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be mixed. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to strategically evaluate the strength of evidence supporting the use of VR as a rehabilitation tool for motor function and cognition in patients with TBI.
The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Interventions for Improvement of Neurocognitive Performance After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review. [2022]To evaluate current evidence for the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) interventions in improving neurocognitive performance in individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Virtual reality interventions and the outcome measures of adult patients in acute care settings undergoing surgical procedures: An integrative review. [2022]To evaluate the different types of virtual reality (VR) therapy received by adult patients undergoing surgical procedures in acute care settings and the outcome measures, as well as to highlight the acceptability and feasibility of VR approaches among patients and healthcare workers.
Examining the Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Virtually Delivered Trauma-Focused Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Interventions: A Rapid Evidence Assessment. [2023]The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rapid shift to virtual delivery of treatment and care to individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual violence. A rapid evidence assessment (REA) was undertaken to examine the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of trauma-focused virtual interventions for persons affected by domestic violence and sexual violence. The findings from this review will provide guidance for service providers and organizational leaders with the implementation of virtual domestic violence and sexual violence-focused interventions. The REA included comprehensive search strategies and systematic screening of and relevant articles. Papers were included into this review (1) if they included trauma-focused interventions; (2) if the intervention was delivered virtually; and (3) if the article was published in the English-language. Twenty-one papers met inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. Findings from the rapid review demonstrate that virtual interventions that incorporate trauma-focused treatment are scarce. Online interventions that incorporate trauma-focused treatment for this at-risk group are limited in scope, and effectiveness data are preliminary in nature. Additionally, there is limited evidence of acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of virtual interventions for ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse populations experiencing domestic violence and sexual violence. Accessing virtual interventions was also highlighted as a barrier to among participants in studies included in the review. Despite the potential of virtual interventions to respond to the needs of individuals affected by domestic violence and/or sexual violence, the acceptability and effectiveness of virtual trauma-focused care for a diverse range of populations at risk of violence are significantly understudied.
Assessment of Boys' Responses to Interpersonal Conflict in Virtual Reality. [2023]Background: Continuous advances in virtual reality (VR) technology have increased its potential for clinical use in the research, assessment, and treatment of mental health difficulties. One potential target for VR use is childhood behavior problems, which are often associated with social-cognitive deficits that can be difficult to measure or modify. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 36 boys between the ages of 8-13 to assess the usability of a VR device and its feasibility as a psychiatric tool for youth. Each participant experienced three virtual school cafeteria scenes that varied in antisocial content and the intentions of a virtual counterpart (VC) (control, ambiguous, or hostile). Following each scene, participants completed questions about ease and comfort in using the headset as well as an assessment of hostile attribution bias (HAB). HAB is the tendency to attribute hostile motivations to others' behaviors, which contributes to antisocial thoughts and behaviors. Following this VR use, participants completed a standard text assessment of HAB. Results: In general, participants reported the VR headset to be enjoyable and easy to use, and scenes worked as intended, with VCs in the hostile scene rated the meanest. In addition, boys with more conduct problems reported that virtual characters were meaner to them, despite no difference in text vignette measures of HAB. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the further development of VR programs to assess and treat childhood behavior problems.
Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality as a Tool for Studying Bystander Behaviors in Interpersonal Violence: Scoping Review. [2021]To provide participants with a more real and immersive intervening experience, virtual reality (VR) and/or augmented reality (AR) technologies have been integrated into some bystander intervention training programs and studies measuring bystander behaviors.
Virtual reality for the rehabilitation and prevention of intimate partner violence - From brain to behavior: A narrative review. [2023]Rehabilitation and prevention strategies to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) have limited effectiveness in terms of improving key risk factors and reducing occurrence. Accumulated experimental evidence demonstrates that virtual embodiment, which results in the illusion of owning a virtual body, has a large impact on people's emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses. This narrative review discusses work that has investigated how embodied perspective - taking in virtual reality has been used as a tool to reduce bias, to enhance recognition of the emotional state of another, and to reduce violent behaviors, in particular in the realm of IPV. Some of the potential neurological mechanisms behind these affective and behavioral changes are also discussed. The process of rehabilitation and prevention is complex and not always effective, but the integration of neuroscience-inspired and validated state-of-the-art technology into the rehabilitation process can make a positive contribution.