The Green Room: Virtual Nature for Mental Well-being in the Acute Psychiatry Ward

NCT07655063 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: HCB/2025/0704
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the feasibility, acceptability and clinical impact of a virtual reality (VR)- based nature intervention in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit. Participants are randomly assigned to recieve VR nature sessions (using Nature Treks VR on Meta Quest 3) in addition to standard care, or standard care alone. The primary outcome is change in percieved stress (PSS-19) from admission to discharge. The study uses a mixed-methods design combining randomized controlled trial with a qualitative phase.

Conditions

Mental Disorders; Psychiatric Hospitalization; Stress (Psychology)

Keywords

virtual reality; nature exposure; Acute psychiatry; Inpatient; Mental health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) score

  Change in PSS-10 total score from baseline assessment (T0, al clinical stabilization) to discharge assessment (T2). The Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful. Scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress.

  From admission (baseline) to discharge (average 2-3 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) score

  Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks

• Views On Inpatient Care (VOICE) score

  Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks

• Client's Assessment of Treatment (CAT) score

  Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks

• Length of hospital stay

  From admission to discharge, an average of 2 weeks

• Rate of discharge against medical advice (DAMA)

  Throughout hospitalization, an average 2 weeks.

Study Arms (2)

VR + Treatment as Usual

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive voluntary VR nature sessions (10-15 minutes, every other day) using Meta Quest 3, in addition to standar psychiatric care.

Behavioral: Virtual Reality Nature Exposure

Treatment as Usual (TAU)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participantrs receive standard pharmacological and psychotherapeutic care provided by the acute psychiatry ward, without VR sessions.

Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Interventions

Virtual Reality Nature Exposure BEHAVIORAL

Voluntary immersive nature sessions using Nature Treks VR softwere on Meta Quest 3 head-mounted displays. Sessions last 10-15 minutes and are offered every other day throughout hospitalization. Participants freely choose among all available nature environments within the application.

VR + Treatment as Usual

Treatment as Usual (TAU) OTHER

Standard pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions provided by the acute psychiatry ward.

Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 to 65 years. Admitted to the Acute Psychiatry Ward (regardless of voluntary or involuntary legal status).
• Sufficient cognitive and clinical stability to provide informed consent and engage with the VR equipment, as determined by the clinical team.
• Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish.

You may not qualify if:

• History of photosensitive epilepsy or severe seizure disorders. Presence of active facial injuries, infections, or skin conditions that prevent the hygienic use of the VR headset.
• Pre-existing severe vertigo, balance disorders, or high susceptibility to motion sickness.
• Acute clinical state involving high risk of agitation or behavioral dysregulation that could compromise participant or equipment safety.
• Severe visual or hearing impairments that cannot be corrected and would hinder the VR experience.
• Patients who have previously participated in the study during a prior admission are not eligible for re-enrolment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Clinic of Barcelona: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hospital Clinic de Barcelona

Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders; Psychological Well-Being

Interventions

Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Pablo Barrio Gimenez

  Hospital Clinic of Barcelona

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 9, 2026
• First Posted: June 17, 2026
• Study Start: June 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

ES (1)