NCT06021938

Brief Summary

The evolution of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is marked by dyspnea, anxiety and pain, major determinants of suffering induced by this disease. The only palliative treatment for respiratory failure is non-invasive ventilation (NIV), which compensates failing respiratory muscles and relieves dyspnea, improves quality of life and increases life expectancy. In ALS patients, the persistence of dyspnea outside of NIV sessions has highlighted the need for therapeutic alternatives in the treatment of persistent dyspnea, including immersive virtual reality (IVR) and auditory distraction through music (music therapy). This study evaluates the effect of IVR on respiratory discomfort in ALS patients with persistent dyspnea treated with NIV.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
35

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
11mo left

Started Apr 2024

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress71%
Apr 2024Apr 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 25, 2023

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 1, 2023

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 4, 2024

Completed
3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 4, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 4, 2027

Last Updated

February 25, 2026

Status Verified

February 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

August 25, 2023

Last Update Submit

February 23, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

Persistent DyspneaNon-Invasive VentilationImmersive Virtual Reality

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Evaluate the effect of IVR on respiratory discomfort (A1)

    Evaluate the effect of IVR on respiratory discomfort (scale A1 of the MDP questionnaire) of patients with ALS at the stage of respiratory failure treated with NIV

    15 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Evaluate the effect of IVR on respiratory discomfort (QS and A2)

    15 minutes

  • Evaluate the effect of music therapy on respiratory discomfort (QS, A1 and A2)

    15 minutes

  • Compare the evolutionary profile on respiratory discomfort (QS, A1 and A2) under the effect of IVR and music therapy

    15 minutes

  • Compare the effect of IVR and music therapy on the respiratory discomfort in terms of preference.

    15 minutes

  • Evaluate the acceptability of IVR

    15 minutes

Study Arms (2)

Patients starting with RVI

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients will begin by wear a virtual reality headset (GAMIDA®) and headphones (Bose®). A tablet (Samsung®) equipped with "Healthy Mind" software will allow patients to live a 360° visual and auditory 3D experience via Bluetooth connection. After that patients will be handed a smartphone with the Spotify® application to listen to music. Patients will wear headphones.

Device: Immersive virtual reality (IVR) & Music therapy

Patients starting with music therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients will begin by handed a smartphone with the Spotify® application to listen to music. Patients will wear headphones. After that patients will wear a virtual reality headset (GAMIDA®) and headphones (Bose®). A tablet (Samsung®) equipped with "Healthy Mind" software will allow patients to live a 360° visual and auditory 3D experience via Bluetooth connection.

Device: Immersive virtual reality (IVR) & Music therapy

Interventions

The patient will be offered a digital therapy session based on immersive virtual reality (IVR) and a music therapy session, 60 minutes apart. The IVR session will be based on medical hypnosis (GAMIDA®) and the music therapy session will be based on the choice of music the patient wishes. Each session will last 15 minutes. Patients will start either with the medical hypnosis session by IVR or with the music session depending on the randomization carried out before the start of the study. The random order will be provided by software (CleanWeb).

Patients starting with RVIPatients starting with music therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • ≥ 18 years old
  • Diagnosis of ALS confirmed according to the revised criteria of El Escorial
  • Respiratory failure due to diaphragmatic dysfunction treated by non-invasive ventilation for more than a month
  • Care provided in an ambulatory setting (day care hospital)
  • Persistent dyspnea at rest ≥ 3 across a numerical scale (0 to 10) in a semi-sitting position
  • Stable clinical condition, i.e., no episode of acute cardiac, respiratory and/or neurological failure leading to hospitalization in the previous 4 weeks
  • Free, prior and informed written consent about the study has been obtained
  • Benefiting a social security (French health insurance system)

You may not qualify if:

  • Neurological disorders according to a neurological evaluation dating from less than one year, in particular diagnosed dementia (frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, etc.), brain pathology (tumor, stroke, Parkinson's disease, etc.)
  • Diagnosed psychiatric illness (severe depression, psychosis) or receiving antipsychotic treatment
  • Acrophobia
  • Claustrophobia
  • Photophobia
  • Hearing loss
  • Visual impairment
  • Subject under guardianship or curatorship

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Service de Pneumologie

Paris, France, 75013, France

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Interventions

Music Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Cord DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesMotor Neuron DiseaseNeurodegenerative DiseasesTDP-43 ProteinopathiesNeuromuscular DiseasesProteostasis DeficienciesMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sensory Art TherapiesComplementary TherapiesTherapeuticsRehabilitationAftercareContinuity of Patient CarePatient CarePsychotherapyBehavioral Disciplines and Activities

Central Study Contacts

Capucine MORELOT-PANZINI

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 25, 2023

First Posted

September 1, 2023

Study Start

April 4, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 4, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 4, 2027

Last Updated

February 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations