Virtual Reality Interventions for the Improvement of Depression, Anxiety and Pain in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and Caregivers

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Head and Neck Carcinoma

In brief

This clinical trial tests how well a three-dimensional (3D) mindfulness virtual reality (VR) versus (vs) two-dimensional (2D) non-immersive interventions works in improving depression, anxiety, pain, and/or stress in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiation or chemoradiation (C/RT), and their caregivers. HNC patients undergoing C/RT can experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, distress and pain that negatively impact their quality of life. VR allows for a realistic experience and works as an effective distraction tool from the state of pain or anxiety without use of drugs and with minimal associated risk to patients. VR has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and pain in non-cancer patients, however there is limited evidence of how well VR use works in cancer patients, especially in patients undergoing C/RT for HNC. Caregivers of these patients also experience high levels of anxiety and distress. Using VR interventions may improve depression, anxiety, pain and/or stress in patients with HNC undergoing C/RT and their caregivers.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06985784

Run by

City of Hope Medical Center

People needed

40

Starts

2025-06-25

Expected to finish

2027-11-09

Last updated by the study team

2025-11-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• PATIENTS: Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative
• Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained per institutional guidelines
• PATIENTS: ≥ 18 years
• PATIENTS: Self-reported normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
• PATIENTS: Ambulatory (permitted to use walking aids such as cane or crutch)
• PATIENTS: Ability to read and understand English for questionnaires
• PATIENTS: Scheduled to undergo C/RT for their HNC
• CAREGIVERS: Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative
• Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained per institutional guidelines
• CAREGIVERS: ≥ 18 years
• CAREGIVERS: Self-reported normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
• CAREGIVERS: Ability to read and understand English for questionnaires
• CAREGIVERS: A care giver identified by the patient and defined as a person who knows the patient well and is involved in the patient's medical care

You may not qualify if…

• PATIENTS: An employee who is under the direct/ indirect supervision of the principal investigator (PI)/ a co-investigator/ the study manager
• PATIENTS: A direct study team member
• PATIENTS: Inability to complete the surveys
• PATIENTS: Serious mental illness
• PATIENTS: Previous head and neck cancer treatment
• PATIENTS: History of any psychiatric disease treatment with anti-depressants, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain (> 3 months)
• PATIENTS: Cancer in or around the eyes or ears; visual, hearing or cognitive impairment
• CAREGIVERS: An employee who is under the direct/ indirect supervision of the PI/ a co-investigator/ the study manager
• CAREGIVERS: A direct study team member
• CAREGIVERS: Inability to complete the surveys
• CAREGIVERS: Serious mental illness
• CAREGIVERS: History of any psychiatric disease treatment with anti-depressants, substance abuse, PTSD

Where it is running

• City of Hope Medical Center — Duarte, California, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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