VR-Based Behavioral Activation in Adults (VR-Dep)

July 11, 2026 updated by: KTO Karatay University

Behavioural Activation Intervention for Depression in a Virtual Reality Environment: Software Development and Effectiveness Study

Study Overview This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed Virtual Reality (VR) behavioral activation software program for individuals experiencing symptoms of depression. Behavioral activation is a well-established psychological approach that helps individuals re-engage in positive, rewarding activities to reduce depressive symptoms and improve mood. By translating this approach into an immersive VR environment using hand-tracking technology, the study explores whether technology-enhanced interventions can make therapy more accessible, engaging, and effective. What the Study InvolvesParticipants in this study are randomly assigned to one of two groups:VR Behavioral Activation Group (Intervention): Participants in this group receive a structured behavioral activation program delivered entirely within a customized virtual reality environment. Using advanced hand-tracking technology instead of traditional controllers, participants interact naturally with the virtual world to complete rewarding tasks and activities designed to boost engagement and mood. Waitlist Control Group: Participants in this group do not receive the VR intervention during the active study period, serving as a comparison baseline to accurately measure the specific effects of the VR software. However, to ensure ethical standards and support all participants, individuals in this group receive psychological education (psychoeducation) after the data collection phase is fully completed. Research Goals The primary goal is to determine if the VR-focused behavioral activation program successfully reduces depression severity and enhances overall behavioral activation levels compared to the control group. Additionally, researchers will evaluate how the intervention influences the body's behavioral approach and inhibition systems, providing insights into the underlying psychological mechanisms of VR-driven therapy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a virtual reality-based behavioral activation intervention on reducing depression symptoms. Considering that depression negatively affects the daily functionality of individuals, an interactive behavioral activation intervention was developed in a virtual reality environment and the effectiveness of this intervention was tested. A randomized controlled experimental design was used in the study. The sample consisted of 50 participants with moderate to high levels of depression (experimental group = 25, control group = 25). The experimental group received a behavioral activation intervention in a virtual reality environment for 4 weeks, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. The intervention was delivered through virtual reality goggles in the morning. In the virtual reality environment, participants simulated their morning routines, such as waking up, tidying the room, preparing breakfast, and getting dressed. Sociodemographic Information Form, Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Presence Questionnaire, Virtual Reality Application Observation Form and Semi-Structured Interview Form for Virtual Reality Applications were used in the data collection process. In the data analysis phase, Mixed Design Repeated Measures ANOVA was planned for behavioral activation and behavioral inhibition variables, and F1-LD-F1 design analysis was planned for depression and emotion regulation variables.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Aydin, Turkey (Türkiye), 09010
        • Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Department of Psychology

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being 18 years of age or older.
  • Being literate (ability to read and write).
  • Providing written informed consent by reading and signing the informed consent form.
  • Having a score of 17 or above on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
  • Having a score of 41 or below on the Behavioral Activation subscale of the Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scale.
  • Having a score of 21 or above on the Behavioral Inhibition subscale of the Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having advanced vision problems that impair visual function, such as cataracts.
  • Having uncorrected visual impairments, such as color blindness.
  • Having any psychiatric or neurological disorder characterized by impaired reality testing.
  • Being under 18 years of age.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: VR Behavioral Activation Group
Participants in this group receive a structured behavioral activation program delivered entirely within a customized virtual reality environment using hand-tracking technology to reduce depressive symptoms and enhance behavioral activation.
Device: Virtual Reality Behavioral Activation Software
A customized virtual reality (VR) software application developed for Meta Quest hardware, utilizing hand-tracking technology. The software delivers a structured behavioral activation program designed to treat depressive symptoms by engaging participants in immersive, therapeutic activities.
Other: Waitlist Control Group
Participants in this group serve as a comparison baseline and do not receive the VR intervention during the active study period. After all post-test data collection is completed, they are provided with a psychological education (psychoeducation) program for ethical support.
Behavioral: Waitlist Control and Psychoeducation
Participants remain on a waitlist during the active implementation phase to serve as a control group. Upon completion of all post-test data collection, they receive a comprehensive psychological education (psychoeducation) program to ensure ethical treatment standards.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Scores
Time Frame: Baseline (Pre-test) and Post-test (Week 4)
The BDI is a 21-item self-report questionnaire used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3. Total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.
Baseline (Pre-test) and Post-test (Week 4)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
KTO Karatay University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Mehmet Şakiroğlu, Assoc. Prof., Aydin Adnan Menderes University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 10, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 22, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 11, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 11, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ali.yasin.kafes
  • 2023/1-12 31906847/050.04.04-9 (Other Identifier: Aydin Adnan Menderes Univ Social & Human Sci Ethics Comm)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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