Psychedelic replications in virtual reality and their potential as a therapeutic instrument: an open-label feasibility study
This open‑label feasibility study tested Psyrreal, a virtual reality experience that mimics psychedelic phenomenology, in 13 people with mild-to-moderate depression and found a significant reduction in depressive symptoms at 2‑week follow‑up (n = 10, p = 0.007, Hedges’ g = 1.046). Semi‑structured interviews suggested the VR sessions could produce insight and alterations in sense of self for some participants, indicating VR psychedelic replications with psychological support are a promising therapeutic approach warranting further controlled research.
Authors
- Kaup, K. K.
- Vasser, M.
- Tulver, K.
Published
Abstract
Background
Recent research has shown promising results for the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. One popular view claims that these benefits are mediated by the subjective experiences induced by these substances. Based on this, we designed a virtual reality experience, Psyrreal, that mimics the phenomenological components of psychedelic experiences.
Aims
We aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Psyrreal and psychedelic VR experiences in treating depressive symptoms as well as explore the effect of Psyrreal on subjective factors which have been suggested to mediate the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
Methods
In this open-label feasibility study, thirteen participants with mild-to-moderate depression underwent a 2-day therapeutic intervention implementing Psyrreal. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Emotional State Questionnaire (EST-Q2) at the start of the intervention and 2 weeks after. A thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews after Psyrreal was also conducted as an additional assessment of the method.
Results
A 2-day intervention implementing Psyrreal led to significant decreases in depressive symptoms at the 2-week follow-up (n = 10, p = 0.007, Hedges’ g = 1.046) measured by the Emotional State Questionnaire (EST-Q2). The analysis of semi-structured interviews suggests that Psyrreal could lead to insight and alterations in the sense of self in some people.
Conclusion
This work proposes a novel method using virtual reality to augment the treatment of psychological disorders as well as to precisely investigate the mediating subjective factors of the therapeutic effects of psychedelic substances. Our preliminary results suggest that VR experiences combined with psychological support show potential in treating depressive symptoms and further research into similar methods is warranted
Research Summary of 'Psychedelic replications in virtual reality and their potential as a therapeutic instrument: an open-label feasibility study'
Introduction
Psychedelic-assisted therapies have seen a strong resurgence because of promising results across conditions such as depression, addiction and end-of-life distress. A central unresolved question in this literature is whether therapeutic benefit arises primarily from neurochemical action or from the subjective experiences psychedelics produce — for example mystical-type states, ego-dissolution and insight. If subjective phenomenology is a key mediator, then replicating those phenomenological elements without drugs might produce at least some therapeutic effects and offer a more accessible alternative for people who cannot, or prefer not to, take psychedelic compounds. Aday and colleagues designed a virtual reality (VR) experience called Psyrreal intended to mimic a broad set of audiovisual and narrative features of psychedelic, mystical and meditative states. This open-label feasibility study tested Psyrreal in a 2-day augmented therapeutic protocol for adults with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms, with the main aim of assessing whether the intervention reduced depressive symptoms and whether psychedelic-like subjective factors (mystical experiences, ego-dissolution, insight) were elicited and measurable.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Topics
- APA Citation
Kaup, K. K., Vasser, M., Tulver, K., Munk, M., Pikamäe, J., & Aru, J. (2023). Psychedelic replications in virtual reality and their potential as a therapeutic instrument: an open-label feasibility study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1088896.
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