Virtual Reality Intervention for Domestic Violence

Overseen By Nicholas Thomson

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Not violent crime victim

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

220 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The overall aim of the proposed project is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of Brief Violence Intervention-Virtual Reality (BVI-VR) for reducing firearm-related violence, re-injury, and mortality among victims of violence. Outcome measures of firearm-related violence will come from multiple sources, including criminal background checks, hospital data, state-level data, semi-structured clinical assessments, and self-report assessments. In addition, the study aims to understand the impact of BVI-VR on psychosocial mediators resulting in a reduction of firearm-related violence. This will include self-report surveys, neurocognitive assessments, and clinical assessments. The economic efficiency of BVI-VR as a firearm-related violence intervention will also evaluated. To achieve these aims, a randomized control trial (RCT) in a large sample of violently injured adults (18+ years) from VCU Health will be conducted.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Brief Violence Intervention VR (BVI-VR) for domestic violence?

Research suggests that virtual reality (VR) can be a useful tool for rehabilitation of intimate partner violence perpetrators by helping them improve empathy and learn non-violent responses, as it allows users to experience situations from different perspectives, including that of the victim. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the BVI-VR treatment for domestic violence unique?

The BVI-VR treatment is unique because it uses virtual reality to immerse participants in different perspectives, such as that of a victim or bystander, to improve empathy and train non-violent responses. This approach is novel compared to traditional methods, as it leverages virtual embodiment to influence emotional and behavioral changes. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Research Team

Nicholas Thomson, PhD

Principal Investigator

Virginia Commonwealth University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults who have been injured due to violence and are at VCU Health. It's designed to see if a new virtual reality program can help reduce gun-related violence, re-injury, or death in these individuals. The study will exclude certain participants based on criteria not specified here.

Inclusion Criteria

Violently injured patients from VCU's Level 1 Trauma Center

I can speak English.

Exclusion Criteria

I am under 18 years old.

Not a victim of violent crime

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants undergo the Brief Violence Intervention-Virtual Reality (BVI-VR) program, which includes psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and motivational goal setting.

30 minutes

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for firearm-related violence, re-injury, and mortality through self-report surveys, hospital data, and criminal background checks.

6 months

3 visits (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Brief Violence Intervention VR (BVI-VR)

Trial Overview The study tests a Virtual Reality intervention called BVI-VR against the usual treatment methods (TAU) to prevent further gun-related incidents among violently injured adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients randomized into the BVI-VR group will answer questions about the session content and the rationale for the content. Their responses will provide an estimate of engagement providing a better understanding of treatment fidelity.

Group II: Treatment as Usual (TAU) Group Placebo Group 1 Intervention

The treatment-as-usual (TAU) group will receive a community resource brochure (the same one that is provided at the end of BVI-VR). This brochure provides contact detail for services in the local area.

Brief Violence Intervention VR (BVI-VR) is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as BVI-VR for:

• Firearm-related violence prevention
• Re-injury prevention
• Mortality prevention among victims of violence

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

732

Recruited

22,900,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Findings from Research

Virtual reality (VR) shows promising clinical effectiveness in treating various psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, phobias, chronic pain, rehabilitation, and addictions, but more research is needed to establish it as a standard practice.

The recent availability of consumer VR products may enhance the development of VR applications in psychiatry, highlighting the importance of high-quality research to determine the effectiveness and appropriateness of VR in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review of Virtual Reality Treatment in Psychiatry: Evidence Versus Current Diffusion and Use. Mishkind, MC., Norr, AM., Katz, AC., et al.[2018]

Virtual reality (VR) can be an effective rehabilitation tool for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) by allowing them to experience violent confrontations from multiple perspectives, which may enhance their empathy and understanding of the impact of their actions.

Implementing VR in prison settings offers practical benefits for training IPV perpetrators in non-violent responses, potentially leading to better rehabilitation outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

On the Practical Use of Immersive Virtual Reality for Rehabilitation of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators in Prison. Barnes, N., Sanchez-Vives, MV., Johnston, T.[2022]

A systematic review of 12 studies on virtual reality (VR) for rehabilitation in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients found moderately positive evidence supporting its effectiveness for improving both motor skills and cognitive function.

The studies included varied in quality, indicating a need for more robust research to conclusively determine the efficacy of VR-enhanced rehabilitation techniques for TBI, suggesting that further exploration of immersive VR methods is necessary.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality gaming as a neurorehabilitation tool for brain injuries in adults: A systematic review. Aulisio, MC., Han, DY., Glueck, AC.[2021]

A systematic review of 13 studies involving 132 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) found that virtual reality (VR) interventions can significantly improve various aspects of neurocognitive performance, such as learning, memory, and attention.

While some studies showed that improvements in cognitive performance could translate to real-life activities, more research is needed to validate these findings and ensure consistent real-world application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Interventions for Improvement of Neurocognitive Performance After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review. Manivannan, S., Al-Amri, M., Postans, M., et al.[2022]

Virtual reality (VR) therapy has shown potential to improve clinical outcomes, such as reduced pain and anxiety, in adult patients undergoing surgical procedures, based on a review of 18 studies.

Factors like patient comfort and healthcare worker concerns about cost-effectiveness and infection control influence the acceptability and feasibility of VR therapy in acute care settings, indicating a need for further research to solidify its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality interventions and the outcome measures of adult patients in acute care settings undergoing surgical procedures: An integrative review. Wang, S., Lim, SH., Aloweni, FBAB.[2022]

Virtual trauma-focused interventions for individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence are limited in availability and effectiveness, with only 21 relevant studies identified in a rapid evidence assessment.

There is a significant lack of research on the acceptability and feasibility of these virtual interventions, particularly for ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse populations, highlighting barriers to access and the need for further studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining the Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Virtually Delivered Trauma-Focused Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Interventions: A Rapid Evidence Assessment. Ghidei, W., Montesanti, S., Tomkow, K., et al.[2023]

The study involved 36 boys aged 8-13 and demonstrated that a virtual reality (VR) headset was enjoyable and easy to use, indicating its potential as a tool for assessing childhood behavior problems.

Participants with more conduct problems perceived virtual characters as meaner, suggesting that VR can effectively engage children in assessing social-cognitive deficits, although it did not correlate with traditional measures of hostile attribution bias.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment of Boys' Responses to Interpersonal Conflict in Virtual Reality. Hummer, TA., Wood, ZM., Miller, K., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 11 studies found that virtual reality (VR) is effectively used to study and enhance bystander intervention behaviors in various types of interpersonal violence, such as bullying and sexual assault, primarily among young adults in the US.

There is a notable lack of empirical evidence supporting the use of augmented reality (AR) for studying bystander behaviors, indicating that future research should explore AR's potential in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality as a Tool for Studying Bystander Behaviors in Interpersonal Violence: Scoping Review. Xue, J., Hu, R., Zhang, W., et al.[2021]

Virtual embodiment in virtual reality can significantly influence emotional and behavioral responses, potentially reducing intimate partner violence (IPV) by enhancing empathy and recognition of others' emotional states.

Integrating advanced neuroscience-inspired technologies into rehabilitation and prevention strategies may improve their effectiveness in addressing IPV, despite the complexity of these interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality for the rehabilitation and prevention of intimate partner violence - From brain to behavior: A narrative review. Johnston, T., Seinfeld, S., Gonzalez-Liencres, C., et al.[2023]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review of Virtual Reality Treatment in Psychiatry: Evidence Versus Current Diffusion and Use. [2018]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

On the Practical Use of Immersive Virtual Reality for Rehabilitation of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators in Prison. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality gaming as a neurorehabilitation tool for brain injuries in adults: A systematic review. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Interventions for Improvement of Neurocognitive Performance After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality interventions and the outcome measures of adult patients in acute care settings undergoing surgical procedures: An integrative review. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining the Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Virtually Delivered Trauma-Focused Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Interventions: A Rapid Evidence Assessment. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment of Boys' Responses to Interpersonal Conflict in Virtual Reality. [2023]

8. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality as a Tool for Studying Bystander Behaviors in Interpersonal Violence: Scoping Review. [2021]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality for the rehabilitation and prevention of intimate partner violence - From brain to behavior: A narrative review. [2023]