New Study Evaluates Virtual Reality to Reduce Scanxiety in Brain Tumor Patients

What You Should Know:

• AppliedVR, an immersive therapeutics (ITx) pioneer advancing a novel approach to medicine, today announced interim analysis results of a phase 2 clinical trial study performed in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• The phase 2 clinical trial explored whether virtual reality (VR) could be an intervention for primary brain tumor (PBT) patients who experience distress and anxiety prior to their clinical evaluations. The study is part of an ongoing collaboration agreement between AppliedVR and the NCI and is led by the Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI. The patient population of the study is comprised of patients who are actively enrolled in NOB’s Natural History Study.

Expanding Horizons to Create New Realities in Healthcare

The interim analysis of a study published in the Journal for Neuro-Oncology evaluated a novel VR therapy for psychological symptoms in patients with PBT (primary brain tumor). The researchers hypothesized that VR intervention would be feasible and well-received by patients. Twenty participants completed the study, receiving VR devices with various preloaded scenarios. After using VR for a month, nearly all participants reported frequent usage and high satisfaction.

 Specifically, 90% found the VR intervention worthwhile, and the same percentage indicated they would use it again in the future. Additionally, 95% would recommend VR to other patients before their clinic appointments. Sixty percent of participants reported an improved quality of life during the study period. The results suggest that VR therapy shows promise as an intervention for psychological symptoms in PBT patients.

“Receiving a brain cancer diagnosis is one of the most difficult and stressful experiences any human can face, which is why we’re humbled and encouraged by the study’s preliminary analysis. If we can improve just one experience a patient has during their care journey, it makes it all worth it,” said Matthew Stoudt, Co-founder and CEO of AppliedVR. “We’ve always believed in the power that immersive therapeutics hold to transform the lives of patients, and working with an organization as prestigious as the NCI affords us the opportunity to demonstrate that VR can be a highly accessible and scalable solution for cancer patients experiencing anxiety.”

Patients with brain tumors face significant distress due to the challenging clinical course and high symptom burden of the disease. “Scanxiety,” caused by frequent neuroimaging assessments, adds to their stress. While traditional clinical approaches involve referring patients to mental health professionals, many patients choose not to utilize these services. Moreover, there is a shortage of mental health professionals, expected to grow further by 2025.

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