Immersive virtual reality as an auxiliary intervention for college students with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Mild-to-moderate depression is highly prevalent among Chinese college students, with conventional treatments having limitations. This study aimed to explore psychological benefits brought by a standardized immersive virtual reality (IVR) game intervention. Methods This pilot randomized controlled trial enrolled 70 participants split into intervention and control groups; all obtained routine psychological guidance, and the intervention group received a standardized IVR program. Results Significant group-by-time interactions were detected for negative affect (NA) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, p < 0.001). Post-correction analyses revealed sustained reductions in NA in the intervention group starting at T3; the between-group PSQI difference at T6 showed a medium effect size but failed to reach statistical significance after Bonferroni correction, suggesting a possible trend toward improved sleep quality that requires verification in larger samples. Conclusion This IVR program acts as a targeted adjunctive tool to reduce negative affect for college students. No significant improvements in core clinical depression severity (HAMD-17) were detected. Broader clinical antidepressant effects cannot be inferred from the present exploratory findings. Clinical trial registration https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2400093178.