The gameChangeVR trial has been reviewed for the Mental Elf, a leading platform for sharing and evaluating mental health research.

GameChangeVR trialled the use of virtual reality, using CBT style interventions, to help people with psychosis who find everyday social situations anxiety provoking. Reviewed by Dr Imogen Bell for the Mental Elf, the review found strengths and limitations, remarking:

“The gameChange VR trial was not just a high quality randomised controlled trial, but the culmination of decades of empirical research which provided a strong theoretical foundation for the intervention.”

The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research 'Invention for Innovation' (i4i) Mental Health Challenge Award and led by Professor Daniel Freeman of the University of Oxford.  

We worked closely with our local partners, including Principal Investigator Dr Eileen O’Regan and the Research Delivery Team, both of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. This large national project included NHS Trusts, universities, the Royal College of Art, the McPin Foundation, Oxford VR, NIHR MindTech and public involvement contributors.

The results of gameChangeVR have now been published in the Lancet – read more about the findings on the Institute of Mental Health website.