gameChange VR: automated virtual therapy to help patients with psychosis reduce anxious avoidance of everyday situations
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN79060696 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN79060696 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 351247 |
| Protocol serial number | CPMS 67294 |
| Sponsor | University of Oxford |
| Funder | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
- Submission date
- 28/03/2025
- Registration date
- 09/04/2025
- Last edited
- 18/08/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
This study aims to evaluate gameChange, a virtual reality (VR) treatment for people with psychosis, in real-world settings within the NHS. The goal is to help the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) decide whether to fully recommend gameChange for use in the NHS. The project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) and supported by the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) and NICE.
Who can participate?
The study will include individuals with psychosis who have severe fears and are often housebound. Participants will be selected from six NHS mental health trusts: Bristol, Cornwall, Humber, Manchester, Oxford, and West Midlands.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be divided into two groups: one group will start using gameChange immediately, while the other group will start after six months. gameChange involves using a VR headset to practice facing everyday situations with the guidance of a virtual therapist and support from mental health staff. Participants will typically have six sessions, but they can have more if needed.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The potential benefits include a significant reduction in fears related to everyday situations, especially for those with severe problems. This could lead to improved quality of life and greater independence. There are minimal risks, but some participants might find the VR experience challenging or uncomfortable at first.
Where is the study run from?
University of Oxford (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2025 to October 2027.
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in the UK.
Who is the main contact?
Eloise Prouten: eloise.prouten@psy.ox.ac.uk
Daniel Freeman: daniel.freeman@psy.ox.ac.uk
Julia Jones: julia.jones@psy.ox.ac.uk
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
Oxford
OX2 6GG
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-2541-2197 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 1865223635 |
| daniel.freeman@psy.ox.ac.uk |
Scientific
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
Oxford
OX2 6GG
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 1865 281864 |
|---|---|
| julia.jones@psy.ox.ac.uk |
Scientific
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
Oxford
OX2 6GG
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 7976 467942 |
|---|---|
| eloise.prouten@psy.ox.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multicentre two-arm waitlist randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | gameChange VR: a real-world waitlist randomised controlled trial for the treatment of severe agoraphobic avoidance in the context of psychosis |
| Study objectives | Primary: For NHS patients diagnosed with psychosis and having severe agoraphobia, gameChange, when added to usual care, compared to usual care, will reduce agoraphobic avoidance (at six months). Secondary: 1. Compared to usual care, gameChange will reduce agoraphobic avoidance at the end of treatment (8 weeks). 2. Compared to usual care, gameChange will reduce agoraphobic distress. 3. Compared to usual care, gameChange will reduce paranoia. 4. Compared to usual care, gameChange will increase the number of social contacts outside the home. gameChange is an acceptable treatment for patients. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 17/03/2025, Wales REC 3 (Health and Care Research Wales, Castlebridge 4, Cardiff, CF11 9AB, United Kingdom; +44 2920 230457; Wales.REC3@wales.nhs.uk), ref: 25/WA/0081 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Agoraphobic avoidance (severe) in patients with a diagnosis of psychosis |
| Intervention | UKCA marked gameChange VR therapy. Guided provision of VR therapy for 8 weeks. Delivery supported by a mental health staff member (e.g, peer support worker, assistant psychologist, therapist). gamechange is a cognitive treatment that aims for patients to relearn safety by testing their fear expectations. Within the VR environments a virtual coach guides the person through the treatment. When first entering VR, the patient goes into the coach's virtual office and is guided in how to use VR. At the beginning of the first session, the virtual coach explains the rationale behind the treatment, and the participant selects one of the six VR scenarios. The six virtual reality scenarios are: a cafe, GP waiting room, pub, bus, street scene, and newsagent. Each scenario has five degrees of difficulty (e.g, the number and proximity of people in the social situation increases) and participants work their way through each level of difficulty. There are game type tasks within a number of the levels. The participant can choose a different scenario in each session or repeat a previous situation. gameChange is now delivered on a standalone headset. Control group The total duration of the study will be 34 weeks. The total duration of treatment will be 8 weeks. The duration of the follow up period in total will be 34 weeks, with assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, 26 weeks, and 34 weeks. After randomisation, the control group will receive their usual care until completion of the 26 week follow up. After this, they will receive gameChange VR therapy (plus treatment as usual) for up to 8 weeks. They will then complete the 34 week follow up, after which participation will be complete. Usual care is typically antipsychotic medication and regular contact with the mental health team. Treatment group The total duration of the study will be 26 weeks. The total duration of treatment will be 8 weeks. The duration of the follow-up period in total will be 26 weeks, with assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, and 26 weeks. Usual care will continue. Randomisation process Patients will be randomised once they have completed the baseline assessment to either the treatment group or the control group. Randomisation will be carried out by a member of staff unblinded to treatment allocation. An online system from Sealed Envelopes (https://www.sealedenvelope.com/), will use a permuted blocks algorithm with randomly varying block size, stratified by centre. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Agoraphobic avoidance is measured using the Oxford Agoraphobic Avoidance (O-AS) – avoidance subscale at baseline, 8 weeks, 26 weeks. (This will be measured additionally at 34 weeks for the wait-list control group i.e. after they have received the treatment.) The primary endpoint for this outcome is 26 weeks. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Agoraphobic avoidance (distress level) is measured using the Oxford Agoraphobic Avoidance Scale (O-AS) – distress subscale at baseline, 8 weeks, and 26 weeks. (This will be additionally measured at 34 weeks for the control group.) |
| Completion date | 01/10/2027 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 16 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 200 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Attending NHS or commissioned Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) mental health services. 2. Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis or an affective diagnosis with psychotic symptoms 3. Severe agoraphobic avoidance as assessed by the Oxford Agoraphobic Avoidance Scale (score of 6 or above) and wanting help for that difficulty |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Photosensitive epilepsy. 2. In forensic settings or Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit. 3. Command of spoken English inadequate for engaging in the therapy or assessments. 4. A participant may also not enter the trial if there is another factor (for example, current active suicidal plans that need to be the focus of intervention), which, in the judgement of the investigator, would preclude the participant from providing informed consent or from safely engaging with the trial procedures. Reason for exclusion will be recorded. |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/05/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/11/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Sandford Road
Littlemore
Oxford
OX4 4XN
United Kingdom
Bury New Road
Prestwich
Manchester
M25 3BL
United Kingdom
Beacon Technology Park
Dunmere Road
Bodmin
PL31 2QN
United Kingdom
Beverley Road
Willerby
Hull
HU10 6FE
United Kingdom
Newbridge Hill
Bath
BA1 3QE
United Kingdom
47-49 King Street
Dudley
DY2 8PS
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | Requests, accompanied by a study summary, for sharing of de-identified data will be considered by the Chief Investigator (daniel.freeman@psy.ox.ac.uk) and the team. The intent is to share data for reasonable requests. Data will be made available to external researchers subject to the constraints of the consent under which data were collected, with an appropriate data sharing agreement, and after publication of the main study report. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | 16/08/2025 | 18/08/2025 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
18/08/2025: Publication reference added.
28/03/2025: Trial's existence confirmed by NHS HRA.
