Virtual Reality and Web-Based Growth Mindset Interventions for Adolescent Depression: Protocol for a Three-Arm...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Adolescent depression is a leading cause of disability with significant economic impact.
• Many adolescents do not receive adequate treatment for depression, with high rates of non-response and dropout.
• Previous web-based growth mindset (GM) interventions show promise but do not benefit all adolescents uniformly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the acceptability and efficacy of a novel, single-session virtual reality (VR) intervention (VR Personality Project) for adolescent depression.
• To enhance adolescents' perceived control through an immersive, engaging, user-directed VR experience.
• To investigate if targeting perceived control can lead to greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared to existing interventions.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 159 adolescents (ages 12-16) with elevated depressive symptoms.
• Intervention groups: VR Personality Project, web-based GM intervention, or active web-based control.
• Data collection on depression symptoms, perceived control, and functioning at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3- and 9-month follow-ups.

Main Results:

• Hypothesize that both VR and web-based GM interventions will outperform the control group in reducing adolescent depressive symptoms.
• Predict that the VR intervention will yield greater symptom reductions than the web-based GM intervention.
• Anticipate that increases in perceived control from pre- to post-intervention will mediate symptom reductions in the VR group.

Conclusions:

• The VR Personality Project may offer an efficient, mechanism-targeted strategy for reducing adolescent depressive symptoms.
• The intervention is potentially affordable, with costs comparable to a commercial VR headset.
• VR interventions may be a highly engaging and effective option for adolescents experiencing mood-related distress.