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PAPERS

APPLYING THE RESEARCH

The publications listed here represent the growing evidence base on virtual reality in aging and healthcare generated by Dr. Lora Appel and the PrescribingVR Lab. For organizations interested in implementing evidence-informed VR programs in practice, many of these findings have informed the development of caregiVR, a virtual reality platform designed specifically for older adult care settings.

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PUBLICATIONS

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Aternali, A., Lumsden-Ruegg, H., Appel, L., Hitzig, S. L., Mayo, A. L., & Katz, J. (2026). Phantom limb telescoping: Links to anxiety and pain-related measures. Frontiers in Pain Research.

Darmová, B., Fajnerová, I., & Appel, L. (2026). Usability and Feasibility of a Contrast Avoidance Model-Based Virtual Reality Protocol Designed for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Technologies, 14(5), 305.

Gray, H. G., Tchao, D., Lewis-Fung, S., Carman-Gray, G., Pardini, S., Harris, L. R., & Appel, L. (2026). Phase 3 AnxEpiVR VR therapy trial. Epilepsy & Behavior Reports, 100845.

Lewis-Fung, S., Malik, K., Loat, J., & Appel, L. (2026). Serious VR games for dementia: Scoping review. LNCS XR Salento 2025.

Garito, I., Patel, S., & Appel, L. (2025). VR applications in concussion assessment and rehabilitation: Rapid review. Technologies, 13(9), 418.

DiGiammarino, O., da Silveira Gorman, R., Peisachovich, E., & Appel, L. (2025). Virtual reality in dance pedagogy and performance. Journal of Dance Education.

Malik, K., Lewis-Fung, S., Liang, J., et al. (2025). VR&R caregiver respite study. AHFE International Conference.

Darmová, B., & Inthiran, A., & Appel, L. (2025). Usability evaluation of “Paint!” VR game for frail older adults. XR Salento (LNCS).

Lopes, M., De Jesus Jr., B., Rosanne, O., Pardini, S., Appel, L., Smith, C., & Falk, T. (2025). Heart rate variability in VR forest bathing. AHFE Conference.

Saryazdi, R., Carsault, L.-A., Bannon, J., Dove, E., Savundranayagam, M. Y., Appel, L., & Campos, J. L. (2025). VRx@Home: A virtual reality at-home intervention for persons living with dementia and their family caregivers. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21, e103604.

Masoudi, K., Wong, M., Tchao, D., Reber, M., & Appel, L. (2025). VR in vision care: Rapid review. Technologies, 13(8), 342.

Malik, K., Inthiran, A., Geitz, V., et al. (2025). P.086 Randomized controlled trial evaluating virtual reality exposure therapy on epilepsy/seizure-specific interictal anxiety in people with epilepsy. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques, 52(S1), S35–S35.

Alizai, H., Wong, M., Tchao, D., & Appel, L. (2025). Navigating immersion: Usability study of VR for dementia caregivers. Journal of Medical Extended Reality, 2(1).

Bajin, I. Y., Misawa, M., Zhang, B., Daibert-Nido, M., Tchao, D., Garcia-Giler, E., Cheung, K., Appel, L., Nasir, P., Reginald, A., Tabori, U., Bartels, U., Ramaswamy, V., Markowitz, S. N., Bouffet, E., & Reber, M. (2024). QOL-46. Effectiveness of a telerehabilitation program to improve visual perception in children and adolescents with hemianopia consecutive to a brain tumour. Neuro-Oncology, 26(Supplement_4).

Misawa, M., Yaman, I., Zhang, B., et al. (2024). Telerehabilitation for hemianopia in children. eClinicalMedicine, 78, 102955.

Tchao, D., Garcia-Giler, E., Cheung, K., et al., & Appel, L. (2024). VR visual rehabilitation in pediatric hemianopia. Journal of Medical Extended Reality, 1(1), 147–162.

Tesfaye, E., Garito, I., Calabia, D., Lewis, S., Schlosser, R., & Appel, L. (2024). VR for pain and anxiety in stroke dental care. SAGE Open Medical Case Reports.

Appel, L., Appel, E., Lewis, S., Appel, J., Kisonas, E., Rosenberg, J., & Smith, C. (2024). Evaluating the impact of virtual reality on BPSD and quality of life in acute care dementia patients: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e51758.

Ali, S., Alizai, H., Hagos, D., Rubio, S., Calabia, D., Jimenez, P., Senthil, V., & Appel, L. (2024). mHealth apps for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: Scoping review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth.

Aternali, A., Lumsden-Ruegg, H., Appel, L., Hitzig, S. L., Mayo, A. L., & Katz, J. (2024). Case report: Phantom limb pain and telescoping. Frontiers in Pain Research, 1409352.

Garito, I., Lewis-Fung, S., Lawson, B., Gray, H. G., Smith, C., & Appel, L. (2024). VR in ICU care: Provider perspectives. Journal of Medical Extended Reality.

Saryazdi, R., Appel, L., Lewis-Fung, S., Carsault, L., Qi, D., Garcia-Giler, E., & Campos, J. (2024). VRx@Home protocol. BMJ Open, 14, e085442.

Pardini, S., Kim, S., Lopes, M., De Jesus Jr., B., Smith, C., & Appel, L. (2024). SafeVRwards VR intervention. BMJ Open Quality.

Lopes, M., De Jesus Jr., B., Rosanne, O., Pardini, S., Appel, L., Smith, C., & Falk, T. (2024). VR nature relaxation study. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 5, 1451704.

Inthiran, A., Tchao, D., Gray, H., Fung, S., Bui, E., Gold, D., & Appel, L. (2024, October 25–27). AnxEMU–VR: Randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of virtual reality exposure therapy on epilepsy/seizure-specific interictal anxiety in people with epilepsy. [Conference abstract]. CLAE Annual Scientific Meeting, Montreal, QC, Canada. Book of Abstracts.

Lewis-Fung, S., & Appel, L. (2023). SeriouslyVR. 11th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD), Toronto, November 2–4, 2023. Canadian Geriatrics Journal.

Appel, L., Saryazdi, R., Lewis-Fung, S., Qi, D., Tesfaye, E. M., Garito, I., & Campos, J. L. (2023). VRx@Home pilot: Virtual reality therapy for people with dementia living at home. IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics.

Appel, L., Ali, S., Alizai, H., Hagos, D., & Rubio, S. (2023). mHealth apps for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: An environmental scan. 11th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD), Toronto, November 2–4, 2023. Canadian Geriatrics Journal.

Tchao, D., Gray, H. G., Lewis-Fung, S., Pardini, S., Harris, L. R., & Appel, L. (2023). Phase 1 AnxEpiVR study. Epilepsy & Behavior Reports, 100588.

Bourolias, K., Lewis-Fung, S., & Appel, L. (2023). A path forward from assessment to activation: Consolidating leisure assessment tools for people living with dementia. 11th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD), Toronto, November 2–4, 2023. Canadian Geriatrics Journal.

Lewis-Fung, S., Tchao, D., Gray, H. G., Nguyen, E., Pardini, S., Harris, L. R., & Appel, L. (2023). VR exposure therapy design for epilepsy anxiety. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 4, 1209535.

Gray, H. G., Tchao, D., Lewis-Fung, S., Pardini, S., Harris, L. R., & Appel, L. (2023). VR therapy for epilepsy anxiety: Protocol. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, e41523.

Appel, L., Recknagel, J., Lewis, S., & Kisonas, E. (2022). VRCHIVE intergenerational VR storytelling. Educational Gerontology.

Gray, H., Lewis-Fung, S., Tchao, D., Harris, L. R., & Appel, L. (2022). Intervention design and pilot study to evaluate virtual reality exposure therapy on people with epilepsy and related anxiety disorders. Canadian Association of Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada, May 12–15, 2022.

Appel, L., Appel, E., Lewis, S., Cheng, L. (2022). Virtual reality for veteran relaxation (VR2): Evaluating VR therapy for veterans with dementia. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 3, 724020.

Appel, L., Appel, E., Lewis, S., & Kisonas, E. (2021). The development of ObsRVR: An observational instrument to measure reactions of people with dementia experiencing virtual reality. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 8(S1), S139–S140.

Appel, L., Ali, S., Narang, T., Mozeson, K., Orchanian-Cheff, A., & Campos, J. (2021). Virtual reality to promote wellbeing in persons with dementia: A scoping review. Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 8.

Appel, L., Appel, E., Kisonas, E., Pasat, Z., Mozeson, K., Vemulakonda, J., & Sheng, L. Q. (2021). Virtual reality for veteran relaxation (VR2): Introducing VR-therapy for veterans with dementia—Challenges and rewards of the therapists behind the scenes. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2, Article 720523.

Peisachovich E, Appel L, Sinclair D, Luchnikov V, Da Silva C. CVRriculum Program Faculty Development Workshop: Outcomes and Suggestions for Improving the Way We Guide Instructors to Embed Virtual Reality Into Course Curriculum. Cureus. 2021 Mar 4;13(3):e13692. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13692. PMID: 33824834; PMCID: PMC8012247.

Appel, L., Appel, E., Lewis, S., Kisonas, E., Appel, J., & Smith, C. (2021). VRCT: Randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of virtual reality therapy on BPSD and quality of life of acute care in-patients with dementia. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 8(S1), S158.

Appel, L., Peisachovich, E., & Sinclair, D. (2021). CVRRICULUM program: benefits and challenges of embedding virtual reality as an educational medium in undergraduate curricula. Int. J. Innov. Educ. Res, 9(3), 219-236.

Appel, L., Peisachovich, E., Sinclair, D. (2021). CVRriculum Program: Outcomes from an Exploratory Pilot Program Incorporating Virtual Reality Technology into Existing Curricula and Evaluating Its Impact on Empathy-Building and Experiential Education Opportunities. Canadian Journal of Nursing Informatics, 16(1).

Appel, L., Appel, E., Kisonas, E., Bartlett, D., Klein, J., Rosenberg, J., & Smith, C. (2021). Administering virtual reality therapy in acute dementia care: A pilot study. JMIR Formative Research, 5(2), e22406.

Appel L, Appel E, Bogler O, Wiseman M, Cohen L, Ein N, Abrams HB and Campos JL (2020) Older Adults With Cognitive and/or Physical Impairments Can Benefit From Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences: A Feasibility Study. Front. Med. 6:329.

Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Bartlett, D., Klein, J., Rosenberg, J., & Smith, C. (2020). Administering virtual reality therapy to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia admitted to an acute-care hospital: Results of a pilot study. [Abstract P084]. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 7(S1), S55–S119.

Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Bartlett, D., Klein, J., Rosenberg, J., & Smith, C. (2020). Introducing virtual reality therapy for inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute-care hospital: Learnings from a pilot to pave the way to a randomized controlled trial. [Abstract P085]. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 7(S1), S55–S119.

Appel, L., Ali, S., Narang, T., Wiseman, M., Ein, E., Orchanian-Cheff, A., & Campos, J. (2020). Exploring technological characteristics of virtual reality interventions for individuals living with dementia: A scoping review. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 23(1), 4–87.

Appel, L., Narang, T., Ali, S., Wiseman, M., Ein, E., Orchanian-Cheff, A., & Campos, J. (2020). Exploring evaluation methods of virtual reality interventions for individuals living with dementia: A scoping review. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 23(1), 4–87.

Appel, L., Chen, B., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Rosenberg, J., & Smith, C. (2020). Predicting response to virtual reality therapy for treatment of BPSD in acute-care settings. [Abstract P083]. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 7(S1), S55–S119.

Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Bartlett, D., Klein, J., Rosenberg, J., & Smith, C. (2020). Virtual reality therapy for inpatients with dementia: Learnings from a pilot study introducing a non-pharmacological intervention to an acute-care hospital. [Abstract]. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 23(1), 74.

Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Bartlett, D., Klein, J., Rosenberg, J., & Smith, C. (2020). Virtual reality therapy for inpatients with dementia: Learnings from a pilot study introducing a non-pharmacological intervention to an acute-care hospital. 10th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD), Québec City, QC, Canada, October 3, 2019. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 23(1), 4–87.

Appel, L., Bogler, O., Appel, E., Wiseman, M., Cohen, L., Hill, D., Ein, N., Abrams, H., & Campos, J. (2018). Prescribing Virtual Reality (VRx): Can exposure to simulated natural environments using virtual reality offer an alternative therapy for those living with dementia/cognitive impairment who are limited from being outside? Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 21(1), 71–133.

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