Virtual Reality for Recovery After Intensive Care (PICS)

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), Critical Illness Recovery, Rehabilitation After Critical Illness, Rehabilitation Exercise of ICU Patients, Cognitive Impairment, Critical Illness, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if virtual reality (VR) helps improve thinking and memory skills in adults who have stayed in the intensive care unit (ICU). The study focuses on people who needed a breathing machine or stayed in the ICU for several days and are at risk for memory or "brain fog" issues. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does using VR improve a participant's memory, attention, and thinking skills after an ICU stay? * Does the "immersive" feel of a VR headset work better to improve these skills than using a handheld tablet? Researchers will compare three groups to see how different types of care affect the brain: * VR-Rehab: Participants use a VR headset to play brain-training games. * Tablet-Rehab: Participants use a handheld tablet to play the same brain-training games. * Standard Care: Participants receive the usual hospital care without digital brain games. Participants will: * Play brain-training games for 12 minutes every day for up to one week while in the hospital. * Complete memory and thinking tests with a researcher at the start of the study and again after two weeks. * Answer follow-up questions about their memory and thinking skills for 6 months after leaving the hospital.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07585500

Run by

University of Minho

People needed

51

Starts

2025-12-06

Expected to finish

2026-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-13

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adult patients, 18 years or older
• Patients in the Intensive Care Unit
• Ventilated patients must be in the post-extubation period
• The patient has a projected remaining hospital stay of at least 4 days (assessed by the clinical team)
• The patient has RASS score between -1 and +1
• The patient has the ability to move both arms, even if with difficulties, as assessed by the clinical team, to be able to interact with the software
• The patient can maintain a stable sitting position (30° to 60°)
• The patient is able to communicate (speech, gesturing, or writing)
• The patient can communicate and understand Portuguese
• The patient or a legal representative provided informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• Severe cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases: mental illness requiring institutionalization; acquired or congenital intellectual disability; known severe brain injuries (e.g., stroke with significant residual deficits); moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (defined by the duration of loss of consciousness/post-traumatic amnesia or documented residual deficits); diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease with severe movement impairment, Huntington's disease, severe Alzheimer's disease, or dementia of any etiology that prevents autonomy in daily life at baseline)
• The patient uses neuromuscular blocking agents
• The patient has a positive CAM-ICU result at the time of initial screening
• The patient has active psychotic disorders or suicidal ideation
• The patient has documented epilepsy or history of seizures
• The patient has a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) order, is on life support with exclusive focus on comfort, or has an unexpected survival predicted to be less than 24 hours
• The patient has intoxication by an active substance or withdrawal syndrome requiring ongoing medical management that prevents safe and meaningful participation or accurate cognitive assessment
• Patients with immobility or severe motor limitations in the upper limbs, fine motor skills, or cervical region
• The patient has open wounds on the head or face that may affect the comfortable/safe use of VR glasses, cause discomfort, or present a hygiene risk
• The patient has uncorrected blindness or deafness that prevents the safe/effective use of VR/tablet devices.
• Patients are participating in another rehabilitation study with interventions
• Patients with a scheduled surgery where the ICU stay is expected to be less than 24 hours
• Patients in need of respiratory support

Where it is running

• Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João — Porto, Porto District, Portugal (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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