Virtual reality therapy to help people with psychosis manage emotions
Tests a virtual reality-assisted therapy for emotion difficulties in adults with psychosis.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Developing a Virtual Reality-assisted Intervention for Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Psychosis
Key facts
- Where
- London, United KingdomSee the site
Where in United Kingdom
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College LondonLondon, United KingdomNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- King's College London
- Trial code
- NCT07623928
- Record updated
- 3 June 2026
- Original description
Supporting people with psychosis to manage their emotions using virtual realityRead full original descriptionShow less
MANaging emOtions in Everyday Life Using Virtual REality (MANOEUVRE): Developing a VR-assisted Intervention for Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Psychosis
Supporting people with psychosis to manage their emotions using virtual reality
Many people who have experienced psychosis feel overwhelmed by their emotions. Emotions get in the way of doing what matters to them. They want support to manage emotions differently. There is evidence that people with psychosis find talking therapies that teach skills for managing emotions helpful. People said it helped them to understand and manage their emotions. However, they also wanted more help to apply skills they learned to their lives.
It is hard to help people to use therapy skills in real-life situations. Therapists cannot be present when the skills are needed. One solution is to use virtual reality (VR) to bridge the gap between the clinic and real-life. VR involves using a headset to see and hear a very life-like computer-generated simulation of everyday life situations. People with psychosis find VR therapies engaging and helpful. It can feel safer to try things out in VR.
Guided by the feedback of people with psychosis, this research will evaluate a novel therapy to help people with psychosis manage their emotions. Face-to- face therapy will be combined with VR so that people can practice emotion regulation skills safely with "live" coaching from a therapist. This should support people to use these skills when they need them.
Fifteen people with psychosis will be offered the therapy. Everyone will be asked what they think of it and complete questionnaires before and after therapy to see what impact it had on their lives.
A lived experience advisory group will support all aspects of the research process.
Inclusion: Currently under the care of South London and Maudsley (SLaM) National Health Service (NHS) outpatient services; Clinical diagnosis of psychosis (schizophrenia spectrum disorder) (as assessed by their clinical team); Willing to have the interview audio recorded (if taking part in post therapy interview); Willing and able to provide informed consent to participate in the study (as assessed by their clinical team).
Exclusion: History of photosensitive epilepsy; Clinical presentation (e.g., immediate serious risk to self) (as assessed by their clinical team).