Delirium in the Intensive Care UnitNCT07649876
Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety, Agitation and Delirium in Critically Ill Patients
A study testing Virtual reality (VR) therapy in people with Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit and Sleep Quality in Adult ICU Patients, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This is a pilot feasibility study examining the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The study evaluates whether brief, non-interactive VR sessions delivered using a commercially available standalone head-mounted display with calming, nature-based content can be delivered… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit, Sleep Quality in Adult ICU Patients, Agitation Associated With Critical Illness
- What is being tested?
- Virtual reality (VR) therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 2 Jun 2026to 15 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged ≥ 18 years old admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
- No significant uncorrectable visual or auditory impairments
- Estimated ICU length of stay > 48h
- At the time of each VR session, able to keep eyes open for at least 30 seconds, follow simple commands and able to indicate discomfort or request to stop.
- English speaking
Who cannot join
- Significant hemodynamic instability
- Known psychotic disorders associated with delusions (e.g. schizophrenia)
- Severe dementia (e.g. inability to communicate or follow simple commands)
- History of disequilibrium syndrome or vertigo
- Acute hyperactive delirium, requiring physical restraints
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
About this study
This is a pilot feasibility study examining the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The study evaluates whether brief, non-interactive VR sessions delivered using a commercially available standalone head-mounted display with calming, nature-based content can be delivered safely and effectively within routine SICU workflow. Exploratory objectives assess whether VR sessions are associated with changes in anxiety, agitation, delirium, pain, and sedative medication requirements. This research is not intended to evaluate the safety or effectiveness of the headset and/or the specific VR software used for the research
- Conditions
- Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit, Sleep Quality in Adult ICU Patients, Agitation Associated With Critical Illness, Anxiety Acute
- Being tested
- Virtual reality (VR) therapy
- Keywords
- Virtual reality, Intensive care unit, Pain, Agitation, Anxiety, Sleep Quality
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Psychomotor Agitation, Anxiety Disorders, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Virtual reality (VR) therapyBehavioural
VR sessions will use a commercially available headset with non-interactive, immersive content displaying calming nature-based content (e.g., ocean/beach scenes, forests, mountains) delivered through a commercially available VR application
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| VR Intervention | Experimental | Critically ill patients Receives: Behavioral: Virtual reality (VR) therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)
Measured: From time of enrollment to end of intervention at 3 days
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)
Measured: From time of enrollment to end of intervention at 3 days
Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)
Measured: From time of enrollment to end of intervention at 3 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jun 2026
- Study start2 Jun 2026
- Primary completion1 Sep 2026
- Study completion15 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Delirium in the Intensive Care UnitStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Pauline Go, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07649876
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00028621
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Haley AC, Wacker DA. Cinematic virtual reality for anxiety management in mechanically ventilated patients: a feasibility and pilot study. Acute Crit Care. 2022 May;37(2):230-236. doi: 10.4266/acc.2021.00843. Epub 2022 Feb 4.
PubMed 35172527Locke BW, Tsai TY, Reategui-Rivera CM, Gabriel AS, Smiley A, Finkelstein J. Immersive Virtual Reality Use in Medical Intensive Care: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study. JMIR Serious Games. 2024 Aug 9;12:e62842. doi: 10.2196/62842.
PubMed 39046869Naef AC, Jeitziner MM, Gerber SM, Jenni-Moser B, Muri RM, Jakob SM, Nef T, Hanggi M. Virtual reality stimulation to reduce the incidence of delirium in critically ill patients: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial. Trials. 2021 Mar 1;22(1):174. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05090-2.
PubMed 33648572Ong TL, Ruppert MM, Akbar M, Rashidi P, Ozrazgat-Baslanti T, Bihorac A, Suvajdzic M. Improving the Intensive Care Patient Experience With Virtual Reality-A Feasibility Study. Crit Care Explor. 2020 Jun 8;2(6):e0122. doi: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000000122. eCollection 2020 Jun.
PubMed 32695991Jawed YT, Golovyan D, Lopez D, Khan SH, Wang S, Freund C, Imran S, Hameed UB, Smith JP, Kok L, Khan BA. Feasibility of a virtual reality intervention in the intensive care unit. Heart Lung. 2021 Nov-Dec;50(6):748-753. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.05.007. Epub 2021 Jul 1.
PubMed 34217986
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety, Agitation and Delirium in Critically Ill Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07649876
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00028621
- Conditions
- Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit, Sleep Quality in Adult ICU Patients, Agitation Associated With Critical Illness, Anxiety Acute
- Keywords
- Virtual reality, Intensive care unit, Pain, Agitation, Anxiety, Sleep Quality
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This is a pilot feasibility study examining the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The study evaluates whether brief, non-interactive VR sessions delivered using a commercially available standalone head-mounted display with calming, nature-based content can be delivered safely and effectively within routine SICU workflow. Exploratory objectives assess whether VR sessions are associated with changes in anxiety, agitation, delirium, pain, and sedative medication requirements. This research is not intended to evaluate the safety or effectiveness of the headset and/or the specific VR software used for the research
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| VR Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Virtual reality (VR) therapyCritically ill patients |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Aged ≥ 18 years old admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
- No significant uncorrectable visual or auditory impairments
- Estimated ICU length of stay > 48h
- At the time of each VR session, able to keep eyes open for at least 30 seconds, follow simple commands and able to indicate discomfort or request to stop.
- English speaking
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Significant hemodynamic instability
- Known psychotic disorders associated with delusions (e.g. schizophrenia)
- Severe dementia (e.g. inability to communicate or follow simple commands)
- History of disequilibrium syndrome or vertigo
- Acute hyperactive delirium, requiring physical restraints
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual reality (VR) therapyVR sessions will use a commercially available headset with non-interactive, immersive content displaying calming nature-based content (e.g., ocean/beach scenes, forests, mountains) delivered through a commercially available VR application | Behavioural | VR Intervention |
Primary outcome
Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)
Time frame: From time of enrollment to end of intervention at 3 days
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)
Time frame: From time of enrollment to end of intervention at 3 days
Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)
Time frame: From time of enrollment to end of intervention at 3 days
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 35172527Haley AC, Wacker DA. Cinematic virtual reality for anxiety management in mechanically ventilated patients: a feasibility and pilot study. Acute Crit Care. 2022 May;37(2):230-236. doi: 10.4266/acc.2021.00843. Epub 2022 Feb 4.
- Background: PubMed 39046869Locke BW, Tsai TY, Reategui-Rivera CM, Gabriel AS, Smiley A, Finkelstein J. Immersive Virtual Reality Use in Medical Intensive Care: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study. JMIR Serious Games. 2024 Aug 9;12:e62842. doi: 10.2196/62842.
- Background: PubMed 33648572Naef AC, Jeitziner MM, Gerber SM, Jenni-Moser B, Muri RM, Jakob SM, Nef T, Hanggi M. Virtual reality stimulation to reduce the incidence of delirium in critically ill patients: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial. Trials. 2021 Mar 1;22(1):174. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05090-2.
- Background: PubMed 32695991Ong TL, Ruppert MM, Akbar M, Rashidi P, Ozrazgat-Baslanti T, Bihorac A, Suvajdzic M. Improving the Intensive Care Patient Experience With Virtual Reality-A Feasibility Study. Crit Care Explor. 2020 Jun 8;2(6):e0122. doi: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000000122. eCollection 2020 Jun.
- Background: PubMed 34217986Jawed YT, Golovyan D, Lopez D, Khan SH, Wang S, Freund C, Imran S, Hameed UB, Smith JP, Kok L, Khan BA. Feasibility of a virtual reality intervention in the intensive care unit. Heart Lung. 2021 Nov-Dec;50(6):748-753. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.05.007. Epub 2021 Jul 1.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Virtual reality (VR) therapy in people with Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit and Sleep Quality in Adult ICU Patients, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM) (time frame: From time of enrollment to end of intervention at 3 days). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07649876, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Oct 2026.