NCT07649876 · COMPLETED
Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety, Agitation and Delirium in Critically Ill Patients
This small pilot study tests whether short, calming virtual reality sessions, using a headset showing nature scenes, can be safely given to adults in a surgical intensive care unit. It also looks at changes in anxiety, agitation, delirium, pain, and sedative use. It is an early feasibility study with no phase, so it is not testing whether this works.
You may qualify if
- 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
You're excluded if
- 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
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-10-23