Virtual Reality for Substance Use Disorders

(RENTS Trial)

Overseen By Brandon G Oberlin, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Indiana University

Must be taking: Psychotropic drugs

Must not be taking: Mu-opioid drugs

Disqualifiers: Unstable medical, psychiatric, others

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: Study Day Visit

88 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new virtual reality (VR) treatment for individuals recovering from stimulant use disorders. The goal is to determine if VR can reduce the number of days participants use stimulants and extend periods of abstinence. It also examines whether VR can enhance self-identification and decision-making regarding future rewards. Participants who have been abstinent for at least two weeks but no longer than a year, and who are committed to recovery, may be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative treatment options and contribute to groundbreaking research in addiction recovery.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants can be on psychotropic drugs for substance use disorder comorbidity, so you may be able to continue those medications.

What prior data suggests that this virtual reality intervention is safe for individuals with substance use disorders?

Research has shown that virtual reality (VR) treatments are generally safe for people with substance use problems. Studies have found that VR can help reduce cravings for substances like alcohol and nicotine. Often, VR complements other treatments, such as aversion therapy, to manage these cravings.

While VR treatments can vary, they have made therapy more accessible and tailored to individual needs. Importantly, studies have not reported any major safety issues. Patients generally handle VR treatments well, making them a promising option for those seeking to reduce substance use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using virtual reality (VR) for treating substance use disorders because it offers an innovative approach to therapy. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medication or talk therapy, VR engages participants in immersive environments and interactions, creating a unique form of exposure therapy. This method allows individuals to practice coping strategies in a controlled, virtual setting, potentially leading to better real-world application and results. By simulating various scenarios, VR can help individuals confront triggers and cravings safely, offering a promising new tool in the fight against addiction.

What evidence suggests that this virtual reality intervention is effective for reducing stimulant use?

Research has shown that virtual reality (VR) can help reduce substance use and cravings. Studies have found that VR assists people in managing cravings and improving mood and anxiety. In many cases, VR therapy led to fewer days of substance use. VR also creates situations that help people resist the urge to use substances. While most evidence focuses on alcohol and nicotine, there is promising potential for other substances, like stimulants. In this trial, participants in the Virtual Reality arm will receive interventions such as Virtual Reality Park and Virtual Reality Avatar, making VR a hopeful method for helping people with substance use disorders. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Brandon G Oberlin, PhD

Principal Investigator

Indiana University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 who have been abstinent from stimulants for at least 14 days but no more than 6 months, are committed to recovery, and can understand English. They must be outpatients possibly taking psychotropic drugs for substance use disorder-related issues and sober from drugs/alcohol for at least 24 hours before study visits.

Inclusion Criteria

I am not currently hospitalized.

Drug/alcohol abstinence ≥ 24 hours at the time of the study day visit

English comprehension

Exclusion Criteria

Extravagant/elaborate face tattoos

Habitual drug use

Unstable medical disorders

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a Virtual Reality intervention aimed at reducing stimulant use and increasing abstinence

Study Day Visit

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments at 30-day and 6-month intervals

6 months

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Virtual Reality

Trial Overview Researchers are testing a virtual reality intervention to see if it helps people with stimulant use disorders by reducing their drug use days, increasing abstinence periods, boosting future self-identification, enhancing the ability to wait for rewards, and improving perspective on the future.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Virtual Reality Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive the following interventions: Virtual Reality Park Virtual Reality Avatar

Group II: Treatment As Usual Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive the following interventions: Virtual Reality Park

Virtual Reality is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Virtual Reality Therapy for:

• Functional Dyspepsia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Gastroparesis

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Indiana University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,063

Recruited

1,182,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Virtual reality (VR) therapy shows promise in reducing cravings and substance use in individuals with substance use disorder, particularly in studies focused on nicotine addiction.

While VR may help improve mood and anxiety symptoms, the results are mixed, indicating that more targeted interventions are needed to fully understand its efficacy in treating emotional dysregulation and enhancing treatment retention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of virtual reality therapies for substance use disorders: Impact on secondary treatment outcomes. Taubin, D., Berger, A., Greenwald, D., et al.[2023]

A pilot clinical trial involving 19 participants with cannabis use disorder and severe mental disorder showed that an innovative avatar intervention led to a significant moderate reduction in cannabis use, with a Cohen's d of 0.611, indicating effectiveness.

The intervention utilized immersive virtual reality techniques, allowing participants to practice therapeutic methods in real-time, suggesting that this novel approach could enhance treatment outcomes for cannabis use disorder.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Avatar Intervention for Cannabis Use Disorder in Individuals with Severe Mental Disorders: A Pilot Study. Giguère, S., Potvin, S., Beaudoin, M., et al.[2023]

An immersive virtual reality (VR) intervention for adults in early recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) was well tolerated and showed no adverse effects, significantly increasing participants' future self-continuity and delaying reward preference, which doubled their delay tolerance.

After the VR experience, 30 days of follow-up indicated that participants who maintained a strong connection to their 'Recovery Future Self' remained abstinent, suggesting that enhancing future self-similarity can be a promising strategy for supporting SUD recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality intervention effects on future self-continuity and delayed reward preference in substance use disorder recovery: pilot study results. Shen, YI., Nelson, AJ., Oberlin, BG.[2023]

Virtual reality (VR) shows potential as a novel treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), helping patients manage cravings and reduce stress, with studies indicating it activates similar brain areas as substances do.

Despite promising results, the current VR applications for treating SUDs are primarily research-based and not widely available, highlighting the need for more rigorous studies to confirm their effectiveness and address accessibility issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Reality for Individuals With Substance Use Disorders. Worley, J.[2019]

Virtual Reality (VR) technology shows promise in both assessing cravings and treating substance use disorders, providing high ecological validity in its applications.

While VR effectively provokes cravings across various addictions, treatment outcomes based solely on virtual exposure to drug-related cues have shown mixed results, indicating the need for further research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Reality (VR) in Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders: A Systematic Review. Segawa, T., Baudry, T., Bourla, A., et al.[2020]

Practitioners and researchers believe that Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) could be a valuable addition to treating Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), as it offers safe and realistic exposure to triggering scenarios.

VRT is seen as beneficial for adults and those with mental health issues, with the potential to enhance therapy by allowing the inclusion of avatars and observing reactions, although risks like relapse and over-confidence need to be managed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Views of Practitioners and Researchers on the Use of Virtual Reality in Treatments for Substance Use Disorders. Skeva, R., Gregg, L., Jay, C., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10557052/

A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Therapies for ... Initial VR work demonstrates efficacy in successfully inducing substance cravings, and more recent evidence suggests VR can be effectively used as a therapeutic ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36128667/

A systematic review of virtual reality therapies for substance ... VR was effective at reducing substance use and cravings in the majority of studies. Results on the efficacy of VR for improving mood, anxiety, ...

3. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpp.70144

Virtual Reality in Prevention and Treatment of Substance ... VR shows promise in addressing substance-related disorders, particularly for alcohol and nicotine. However, substantial heterogeneity in VR ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2019.01409/full

Virtual Reality (VR) in Assessment and Treatment of ... VR have proved to be effective in triggering craving in both substance use disorder and behavioral addiction. Specifically designed to be ...

5. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41398-025-03553-7

Virtual reality-based cue exposure therapy reduces ... Overall, VR-based CET, and combined with aversion therapy, were found to be effective and safe in reducing psychological craving in MUD, though ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12374077/

Virtual Reality in Prevention and Treatment of Substance ... VR shows promise in addressing substance‐related disorders, particularly for alcohol and nicotine. However, substantial heterogeneity in VR ...

7. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-025-01181-6

Exploring the potential of virtual reality (VR) in mental ... The findings highlight VR's clinical potential in improving accessibility to care, supporting personalized and immersive interventions, and ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589979125000046

Examining the comparative effectiveness of virtual reality ... Results of the meta-analysis demonstrate that VRET generates positive outcomes in the treatment of Specific Phobia and Social Anxiety Disorders which are ...