Recruiting

Virtual Reality

Sponsor:

Stanford University

Code:

NCT07188623

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Older Adults (65 Years and Older)

Behavioral Activation Treatment

Virtual Reality Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 65+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

VR-Enhanced BA

Study Details

Brief summary:

The primary aims of this study are to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and tolerability of using an immersive virtual reality (VR) headset to engage in behavioral activation (BA) for older adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). The secondary aim of this study is to explore the efficacy of using VR to enhance BA therapy in a clinical MDD older adult population.

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Older Adults (65 Years and Older)

Behavioral Activation Treatment

Virtual Reality Therapy

Study ID

NCT07188623

Start date

Sep 30, 2025

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 65+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patient must meet DSM V criteria for MDD
  • Patient must be at least 65 years of age
  • Patient must be English speaking
  • Without cognitive impairment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Substance Use Disorders in past year
  • Any psychosis or bipolar I disorder
  • Any seizure in the last 6 months or untreated epilepsy
  • Current nonsuicidal self-injury or parasuicidal behavior
  • Current suicidal urges and intent
  • Changing psychotherapy treatment within three months of study entry
  • Changing psychotropic medication(s) within two months of study entry

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: VR-Enhanced BA

Participants will perform all of their behavioral activation in virtual reality (VR). Participants will meet with the clinician once a week for four weeks (5 sessions). In between weekly therapy sessions, participants will be asked to pick at least one pleasurable activity to enjoy in VR per day. Participants will complete their post-VR surveys and add and schedule activities on separate worksheets.

Interventions

VR-Enhanced BA

Participants will choose at least one "activity" per day to complete in the loaned HTC VIVE Flow Immersive Glasses or the Meta Quest 3 headset extended reality over the course of the week. These activities are chosen from the headset and include video 360.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in Depression Scores on the GDS-15 From Baseline to Session 5 [ Time Frame: Assessed at the beginning of sessions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Margot Paul, PsyD

510-556-0157mdpaul@stanford.edu

Kim Bullock, MD

650-714-1459kbullock@stanford.edu

Locations

Stanford University

Recruiting

Stanford, California, United States, 94304

Contacts

Margot Paul, PsyD

510-556-0157mdpaul@stanford.edu

Kim Bullock, MD

650-714-1459kbullock@stanford.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Stanford University

Last update posted

Aug 21, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Older adult
  • major depressive disorder
  • MDD
  • behavioral activation
  • VR
  • virtual reality
  • older adults

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Stanford University on 2026-08-21.