NCT07392879Recruiting
Bringing the Outdoors In: Virtual Nature Walks for Depression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patients
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 12 Feb 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
This trial explores the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) nature-based experiences as a supplementary treatment for depression in individuals with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). This study will evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of at-home VR deployment using the Apple Vision Pro, an advanced device that offers enhanced resolution, immersion, and usability compared to earlier VR systems. The study hypotheses include: * The integration of VR nature-based experiences with standard care will be feasible, acceptable, and will result in greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared to standard care or VR-only interventions. * The integration of VR nature-based experiences with standard care will result in greater reductions in stress and anxiety, better sleep, less insomnia, and improved fatigue compared to standard care alone or VR-only interventions.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 40 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 29 Jan 2026
- Start date
- 15 Dec 2025
- Primary completion date
- Apr 2027
- Lead sponsor
- University of Michigan
- Diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- NCT number
- NCT07392879
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 40
- From 15 Dec 2025 to the primary completion date, Apr 2027
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Severe psychiatric conditions that require hospitalization, or suicidal ideation, passive or active, psychosis, or active substance and alcohol abuse (score greater than 1 on CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) Adapted to Include Drugs (CAGE-AID))
- Another neurological or autoimmune disease per protocol
Other
- Severe cognitive impairments or visual deficits that may interfere with VR use, including contraindications like agoraphobia, claustrophobia, or motion sickness
- Current participation in other clinical trials targeting depression
- Participants that require vision correction, unless that vision correction is mild (± 1), or the participant has prescription contact lenses.
Who the study is looking for
- Confirmed diagnosis of progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS, primary or secondary) by a neurologist or an MS center
- Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression T-scores \>55 at baseline
- Ability to provide informed consent and participate in VR sessions at home
- For Some Participants (Groups 1 and 2) currently receiving antidepressant or psychotherapy treatments (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), or psychotherapy) for the management of depression
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Ann Arbor | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.