VIRTUE Bern - Virtual Reality Intervention for Transdiagnostic Use of Defusion Exercises

Description

Virtual reality (VR) offers new possibilities in mental health care. The VIRTUE-Bern project uses VR to help adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 manage distressing thoughts and feelings more effectively. The focus is on a method called cognitive defusion, which helps individuals recognize distressing thoughts as just thoughts – not automatically as truths. This can reduce psychological pressure and lessen emotional burden. In five sessions, participants learn to observe or actively change distressing thoughts through VR or a regular screen. In the VR environment, thoughts appear as clouds that can be rotated, enlarged, or released. This makes a difficult inner process tangible and experiential – particularly helpful for younger people. We compare two things: (1) VR with conventional screen representation and (2) actively changing thoughts with passive observation. Over several months, we also assess whether the learned strategies are effective in daily life – using brief mobile surveys (EMA). Additionally, we consider age, gender, psychological burden, daily functioning, and cognitive flexibility. Adolescents with personal experiences actively contribute to the development of the intervention. VIRTUE-Bern fills an important gap: adolescents are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues, yet most therapies are designed for adults. Our goal is a modern, flexible, and effective early intervention that can be applied to many psychological difficulties. With the help of new technologies, early assistance could be provided, preventing later disease progression.

Project Web Site

https://data.snf.ch/grants/grant/10003817

Primary Contact

Michel, Chantal