New VR therapy successful for patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders with psychosis

AUSTIN, Texas: OxfordVR has successfully automated psychological therapy in VR for patients with mental illness. Users are guided by a virtual coach instead of a real-life therapist, allowing the treatment to reach many more patients. It is the first time a digital therapeutic of any kind has successfully been shown to help patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders with psychotic symptoms.

The technology, called gameChangeVRTM is a 6 week, automated, VR treatment that delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) inside safe, immersive, virtual scenarios. In the largest ever clinical trial of VR for mental health published today in The Lancet Psychiatry, gameChange was shown to help patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders with psychotic symptoms who suffer anxiety and distress in everyday situations. The VR treatment reduced avoidance and distress, improved paranoia and enhanced quality of life when used in conjunction to standard of care drug therapy. The biggest benefits were experienced by those with the most challenging psychological problems. Patients used the VR in the comfort of their own homes, or at their local mental health clinic.

"gameChange can practically scale clinical outcomes far beyond what was thought possible even 5 years ago, effectively offering the ability to treat millions of patients with severe forms of mental illness," says OxfordVR CEO, Deepak Gopalakrishna.

Access to effective psychological therapies has been hampered by a shortage of clinicians. The problem is especially acute for people with severe mental health difficulties. Automated VR offers an innovative and effective way out of this impasse. Therapies are implemented consistently and outcomes replicable, scalable and rapid. gameChange results are delivered in just 6 weeks, with one 30 min VR session per week, compared to standard treatment durations for traditional CBT of 60 mins a week for 16+ weeks.