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Photo: Public Domain
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For research into reducing stress with a VR app, virtual reality relaxation app, a rts in training to become a psychiatrist Catheleine van Driel and psychiatrist Wim Veling from the University Medical Center Groningen UMCG receive a subsidy of half a million euros.
The research focuses on people with depression, psychosis, bipolar or anxiety disorder. Veling and Van Driel will investigate whether the app’s interactive VR nature environments help to relax, reduce stress and improve sleep. It is expected that improvement of these lifestyle factors will lead to a more favorable course of psychiatric illnesses.
VRelax
VRelax is an app that people can use independently at home with VR glasses. The app consists of dozens of relaxing and interactive natural environments, such as swimming with dolphins, relaxing on the beach or playing with stars in the sky. The user can choose from this himself.
Participants use the app every day for several weeks at home to relax and improve their sleep. This measures the effect of VRelax on psychological and physical signals of stress, as well as perceived rest and sleep quality. The researchers will also look at the short and long-term effect on psychiatric symptoms, reduction of medication use, social functioning, quality of life and costs for society.
185 patients will participate in this study over the next 4 years. The first can start in the second half of 2021. It is expected that patients and practitioners will get their hands on a new means with which patients independently regain control of their disease.
The study is a follow-up to an earlier, smaller-scale study at the UMCG in which 50 outpatients with mental health problems took part. This showed that VRelax had a greater effect on improving negative moods such as fear and sadness compared to regular relaxation exercises.
The research takes place at the UMCG and at Lentis and general practitioners’ practices in the region.
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