Use of Virtual Reality as a Tool for Cognitive Remediation in Elderly Depressed Patients (NCT07119008) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Use of Virtual Reality as a Tool for Cognitive Remediation in Elderly Depressed Patients
France40 participantsStarted 2026-09-01
Plain-language summary
Depression, the most common mental disorder affecting the elderly, represents a major public health issue. This pathology leads to a loss of activity and autonomy in the elderly. It impairs executive skills, enabling a person to take initiatives, perform goal-oriented actions and adapt to new situations. Impaired executive functions greatly increase the risk of loss of autonomy and institutionalization, as well as the burden on caregivers. Antidepressant treatments have little or no effect on cognitive disorders. It therefore appears necessary to offer these patients specific treatment of these cognitive symptoms. The investigators are interested in cognitive remediation based on virtual reality (VR) for its ecological and modular characteristics, the innovative aspect of this technique, the appeal of virtual experiences, and their easy access to the general public. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate the acceptability of the VR technique in a population of subjects aged 70 and over, suffering from cognitive disorders and associated depression.
In this study the investigators support the use of VR as a tool for cognitive remediation and ecological staging of their interactions with caregivers in the face of executive disorders found in patients suffering from depression. By improving their cognitive skills, VR brings greater autonomy and improved quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The investigators therefore plan to use a virtual environment to create scenarios that reproduce real-life situations, which appear to be more relevant than conventional cognitive remediation exercises.
The investigators chose acceptability as the main criterion for this technique, as the elderly population is identified as a sensitive population in the opinion issued by ANSES in June 2021. What's more, this population is often excluded from the new digital technologies; it therefore seems interesting to look at the acceptability of virtual reality by this elderly population.
Who can participate
Age range
70 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients aged 70 or over;
* Patient with a characterized depressive episode as assessed by the GDS (Score \> 13 at inclusion);
* Patient with a minimum MMS score of 23/30 at inclusion;
* Patient affiliated to or benefiting from a social security scheme;
* Patient having received information on the protocol and having given free, informed and written consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients suffering from epilepsy;
* Patients suffering from inner ear disorders;
* Patients with balance disorders or postural instability;
* Patients with swallowing disorders requiring mixed feeding;
* Patients suffering from migraines;
* Patients with major sensory deficits (visual or auditory);
* Patients suffering from eye pathologies or abnormalities, and whose condition strictly contraindicates virtual reality;
* Patients suffering from oculo-motor disorders;
* Patients with sensory-motor deficits affecting the upper limb(s) that prevent them from performing the tasks required during VR sessions;
* Patients suffering from primary neuropathic disorders or secondary to metabolic pathologies;
* Patients suffering from acute psychiatric decompensation that makes it impossible for them to cooperate with the sessions (opposition, agitation, acute delusions, hallucinations, panic attacks);
* Patients with uncontrolled cardiac pathology (angina, heart failure, rhythm disorders, conduction disorders);
* Patients with uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \> 140 mmHg and DBP \> 90 mmHg…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
The acceptability of Virtual Reality
Timeframe: at the end of session 12, on average in Week 6