Virtual Reality for Conduct Disorder

Overseen By Nicholas Thomson

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University

Disqualifiers: Non-English speaking, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 4 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new virtual reality treatment called Impact VR, aimed at reducing symptoms of conduct disorder (CD) in young people. Conduct disorder is a common mental health condition in children that can lead to behavioral issues. The trial will compare Impact VR to a control activity involving learning about emotions through a presentation. The study seeks English-speaking youths aged 10-17 diagnosed with conduct disorder. As a Phase 1 trial, the research focuses on understanding how Impact VR works in people, offering participants the opportunity to be among the first to experience this innovative treatment.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this virtual reality intervention is safe for youth with conduct disorder?

Research has shown that Impact VR is generally easy to use. In one study, 95% to 100% of participants found it very acceptable. Caregivers observed fewer behavior problems in young people who used Impact VR, suggesting that the treatment is safe and can help reduce symptoms. Although the trial remains in the early stages, these findings offer promising evidence of safety for those considering participation. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this possible treatment for conduct disorder?

Researchers are excited about Impact VR for conduct disorder because it offers a fresh approach to therapy through virtual reality. Unlike traditional treatments that often involve medication or behavioral therapy sessions, Impact VR immerses participants in interactive scenarios to help them understand and recognize emotions in themselves and others. This innovative use of technology allows for engaging, personalized learning experiences, potentially making treatment more accessible and appealing to younger audiences who are familiar with digital environments.

What evidence suggests that Impact VR might be an effective treatment for conduct disorder?

Research has shown that Impact VR, which participants in this trial may receive, might help treat conduct disorder (CD) in young people. Studies have found that children using Impact VR reported fewer callous-unemotional (CU) traits, often linked to CD. Both the children and their caregivers noticed these improvements. Additionally, caregivers observed fewer behavior problems in children who completed Impact VR sessions. These findings suggest that Impact VR could help children with CD better manage their emotions and behaviors. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Nicholas Thomson

Principal Investigator

Virginia Commonwealth University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young people with Conduct Disorder (CD), a common childhood psychiatric issue. The study will include 60 participants who meet the specific criteria set by the researchers.

Inclusion Criteria

Identified through the TriNetX database as having a conduct disorder diagnosis

I am between 10 and 17 years old.

English speaking

Exclusion Criteria

Non-English speaking

My caregiver is under 18 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the Impact VR intervention, consisting of four 20-minute sessions over 4 weeks

4 weeks

4 sessions (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months

Assessments at 1-month and 3-months post-randomization

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Impact VR

Trial Overview The study is testing Impact VR, an innovative virtual reality program designed to help youth with CD recognize and regulate their emotions better compared to a control group without this technology.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental: Impact VR Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants enrolled into Impact VR will be complete the first of four sessions. The four 20-minute sessions will be completed over 4 weeks (one session per week) either in the lab, at the participant's home, school or a mutual private meeting place

Group II: Comparative Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants enrolled into the comparative control group will complete a one-time PowerPoint presentation that provides an overview of emotion expressions and instructions on how to recognize emotions in others

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

732

Recruited

22,900,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12078265/

A new treatment approach to conduct disorder and callous ... Results demonstrated a high overall acceptability of Impact VR (95% - 100%) across all groups, and a high approval rating for intervention ...

2. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10802-025-01373-3

Impact VR: A Socioemotional Intervention for Reducing CU ... Findings demonstrated that youth with CD who received Impact VR had significant reductions in self-reported CU traits at the 3-month follow-up, ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06301516

Impact VR: An Emotion Recognition and Regulation ... At the center of Impact VR is an individualized training program that teaches youth to effectively identify emotional expressions in others. Official Title.

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41055883/

Impact VR: A Socioemotional Intervention for Reducing CU ... Youth in the Impact VR group had lower levels of self-reported and caregiver-reported CU traits at follow-up. Caregiver ratings also indicated ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/396278289_Impact_VR_A_Socioemotional_Intervention_for_Reducing_CU_Traits_Conduct_Problems_and_Aggression_in_Youth_with_Conduct_Disorder

Impact VR: A Socioemotional Intervention for Reducing CU ... Caregiver ratings also indicated that youth who received Impact VR had significantly lower conduct problems at both follow-up time points. Youth ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0732118X24000552

Virtual reality analytics map (VRAM): A conceptual ... This paper introduces the Virtual Reality Analytics Map (VRAM), a novel conceptual framework designed to leverage VR analytics for the detection of symptoms of ...

7. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10494820.2025.2542898

The efficacy and safety of immersive virtual reality in ... 1. Approximately 3.16 million people lose their lives from unintentional injuries every year (WHO, 2024b). Younger children are limited by their physical, ...

8. medrxiv.org medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.20.25334071v1.full.pdf

The impact of virtual reality cognitive behavioral therapy on ... The impact of virtual reality cognitive behavioral therapy on mental disorders among. 1 children and youth: a systematic review and meta- ...