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VR exposure therapy had strong adherence, with participants consistently completing sessions, and was well tolerated. It showed promise for reducing epilepsy-related anxiety and felt realistic and relevant. Participants reported better understanding their fears, learning coping strategies, and realizing feared outcomes often did not happen. Many were interested in using VR on their own or as part of therapy. Future work will include larger studies and more intense, varied scenarios, including social situations and simulated seizure experiences, to confirm clinical effects.

Analysis

AnxEPI-VR

A 3-phase pilot followed by RCT evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of VR exposure therapy for reducing seizure-related anxiety in people with epilepsy.

VR assignments were feasible to implement and were seen as engaging, immersive, and supportive of experiential learning and empathy-building. Students found the technology intuitive, while instructors reported strong educational value. Key challenges included assignment clarity, low grade weighting relative to workload, the need for ongoing technical support, and logistical issues such as filming consent and equipment access.These findings led to the development of instructor guides, student workbooks, and equipment manuals to improve scalability and support future curriculum integration.

Completed

CVRRICULUM VR

A pilot study integrating VR into undergraduate courses by replacing traditional assignments with immersive projects, assessing feasibility, engagement, and implementation challenges.

VR was well tolerated, caused no adverse events, and did not interfere with the dental procedure. Patients and the dentist were interested in using it again, and the dentist expressed interest in exploring its use in other specialized populations. Findings suggest potential benefits for anxiety and pain. Further research is needed to evaluate effectiveness and to understand how to design VR appropriately for dental settings, including use in a reclined position.

Completed

DentisVRy

A case series evaluating the use of VR during dental procedures for stroke patients, finding it feasible, well tolerated, and potentially effective in reducing pain and anxiety.

The protocol successfully produced measurable emotional contrast, with exposure scenarios reducing RMSSD and increasing subjective anxiety and arousal while decreasing valence and perceived control. The system was well tolerated, with low cybersickness, acceptable comfort with wearable sensors, and sufficient presence to support emotional engagement. Participant feedback informed concrete design improvements, establishing a foundation for future clinical testing of contrast-based VR interventions for GAD.

Active

Emotional Rollercoaster

A feasibility study evaluating a VR protocol based on the Contrast Avoidance Model for General Anxiety, using repeated relaxation-to-threat transitions to induce emotional contrast and assess physiological, subjective, and usability outcomes.

VR was safe, feasible, and highly engaging. Participants were observed to be more engaged and reported feeling more relaxed and, in some cases, more adventurous during sessions. The experiences were well received and accessible for this population. We concluded that further research should evaluate VR in different settings (e.g., home and community) and focus on improving customization and optimization of content and equipment.

Completed

Feasibility Trial

A feasibility study evaluating immersive VR therapy for older adults in care settings, assessing tolerability and its potential to improve mood, relaxation, and wellbeing.

The tool was tested in hospitals, long-term care, rehabilitation, home, and outpatient settings, and has since been used in our own VR studies. It has been useful for capturing real-time responses during immersive experiences. It is available for use in other studies with appropriate attribution and can be further tested and adapted by other research groups. We suggest it may also be combined with measures such as eye-tracking and physiological data in future work.

Completed

ObsRVR Tool

A study designing an observational tool to assess real-time responses of people with dementia during VR therapy sessions, addressing challenges in measuring subjective wellbeing outcomes.

Active

Re:DriVR

A 12-week home-based virtual reality training program designed to improve visual attention and driving performance in people with brain injury–related vision loss.

Analysis

Re:Garde

A community-based study evaluating Re:GARDE, a low-cost VR vision training program designed to improve visual perception in older adults, support independence, and potentially reduce cognitive decline risk.

The home-based VR program was safe, easy to use, and had high completion rates, with no reported side effects or major technical issues. Most participants showed meaningful improvements in vision and reading speed that lasted for months, though a small number experienced mixed results in specific visual measures. While children were generally motivated to use the system, feedback highlighted the need for more engaging, personalized, and game-like features to maintain interest over time.

Completed

Re:Vision

A home-based pilot study testing VR-guided audio–visual training in children with hemianopia.

Bedside staff reported positive experiences and interest in using VR to support relaxation and manage conflict. Both conditions showed improvements in relaxation and positive quality of experience ratings. Physiological data showed changes in brain activity (EEG) and heart rate variability, with some differences in the multisensory condition. An important finding was that participants who relaxed less often felt the scents did not match their expectations. Results highlight the importance of design, customization, and integration into care.

Completed

SafeVRwards

An exploratory study integrating VR therapy into the existing Safewards framework to support staff relaxation and conflict management in inpatient mental health settings.

Most studies focused on emotional outcomes, finding generally positive or neutral effects on wellbeing. Fewer studies examined social engagement or personhood. VR approaches varied widely in design and delivery. Overall, findings suggest VR is a promising tool for supporting wellbeing in people with dementia. We identified a need for more tailored and customizable VR experiences, and for further research to better understand impacts across different populations and settings.

Completed

Scoping Reviews

A scoping review of peer-reviewed studies on the use of VR to support wellbeing in people living with dementia, examining outcomes, methodologies, and system design.

Providers were generally positive about VR and interested in its use as a form of therapeutic recreation. However, responses suggested that use during extubation would not be feasible due to interference with the procedure, the inconvenience of added set-up time, and potential safety issues. We concluded that successful use depends on clear workflows, staff training, and clear guidelines on identifying appropriate patients.Our findings highlight the importance of involving staff early in design and implementation.

Completed

VR-ICU

A study exploring the feasibility of introducing VR therapy for intubated ICU patients to improve care while minimizing disruption to clinical workflows.

Participants successfully created VR “capsule” films and reported positive experiences, including increased connection, engagement, and confidence using technology. The final capsule films can be accessed on the VRCHIVE study website. Program materials including workbooks, activity guides, and filming instructions were developed and refined through the study, are also available on the website for others to use and adapt.

Completed

VRCHIVE

A participatory workshop project enabling older adults with dementia and their families to co-create VR experiences, aimed at reducing isolation, improving digital literacy, and capturing personal stories.

VR significantly reduced aggressive behaviours and was safe and enjoyable. No clear effects were seen for other outcomes, but the study provided insight into feasibility, engagement, and participant preferences. Short sessions (~7 minutes) and variable participation (average 1.6 sessions) highlight challenges of delivering VR in acute care and the need to focus on realistic outcomes and more sensitive measures. Observational findings informed the next iteration, including culturally relevant content, nature, animals, and music.

Completed

VRCT

A randomized controlled trial evaluating the feasibility and clinical impact of VR therapy for hospitalized patients with dementia, showing potential to reduce behavioural symptoms in acute care settings.

Overall, VR showed promise for reducing distress and helping distract from pain. Only five participants received targeted sessions, which were harder to deliver due to workflow challenges and staff hesitation during behavioural distress, while scheduled sessions fit more easily into routine care. Even so, targeted use showed possible reductions in triggered behaviours, suggesting the need to improve delivery methods. Key insights came from therapist observations and interviews, showing high engagement, relaxation, enjoyment, and perceived benefit.

Completed

VRsquared

A study exploring the use of VR therapy to reduce responsive behaviours in long-term care residents while supporting staff wellbeing and care delivery.

Active

VRthritis

An 8-week cross-over trial exploring whether VR-assisted exercise reduces self-reported pain during home exercises compared to standard non-VR practice

Completed

VRx@Home

A pilot study designing and evaluating VR therapy at home for people with dementia, showing it is safe, feasible, and potentially beneficial for patient and caregiver well-being.

Inactive

VRxMAP

An initiative mapping global VR use in senior care to connect stakeholders, reduce duplication, and build a collaborative community of practice.

Early results from the first 25 dyads suggests that both conditions were perceived as beneficial and that respite. Social VR was generally perceived as providing higher-quality respite, as it more reliably enabled caregivers to fully disengage from caregiving. Solo VR still provided meaningful respite time, often used for rest, chores, or personal activities, but required more caregiver involvement. Both were influenced by competing demands, baseline care intensity, and practical factors like the home space and VR technology reliability.

Active

Virtual Reality Respite & Relaxation (VR&R)

A 6-week randomized crossover trial evaluating solo and facilitated VR delivery models in 50 dyads of caregivers and people living with dementia.

Although VR shows promise, this is a small and underdeveloped area of research. Most applications were early-stage and focused on feasibility rather than long-term outcomes. While some studies showed improved task performance, none examined on-the-job outcomes or employment. Many of the studies we excluded had either unclear inclusion of ID populations, focused on autism exclusively, or used VR/AR for pre-employment interview training.

Inactive

Virtually Employable

A scoping review on peer-reviewed literature that explores the use of VR for vocational training in people with intellectual disabilities.

PROJECTS

AnxEPI-VR

CVRRICULUM VR

DentisVRy

Emotional Rollercoaster

Feasibility Trial

ObsRVR Tool

Re:DriVR

Re:Garde

Re:Vision

SafeVRwards

Scoping Reviews

VR-ICU

VRCHIVE

VRCT

VRsquared

VRthritis

VRx@Home

VRxMAP

Virtual Reality Respite & Relaxation (VR&R)

Virtually Employable

LOCATION

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