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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
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Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
Published on: August 29, 2018
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Virtual Reality Implementation in Mental Health Care Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Qualitative Longitudinal Study of a
Marileen Mte Kouijzer1, Laura Am Koenis1,2, David Huizinga3
1Department of Technology, Human and Institutional Behaviour, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Enschede, 7522 NB, The Netherlands, 31 534899111.
JMIR Mental Health
|March 10, 2026
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) training improves therapist confidence but doesn't guarantee adoption in mental health care. Successful implementation requires ongoing organizational support to overcome barriers beyond initial training.
Area of Science:
- Digital mental health
- Implementation science
- Virtual reality in healthcare
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) holds significant potential for mental health treatment and assessment.
- Practical implementation of VR in routine mental health care remains limited.
- Existing research often focuses on barriers rather than evaluating targeted implementation strategies over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a structured VR training program as an implementation strategy in mental health care.
- To identify shifts in therapists' adoption trajectories and implementation needs across different stages.
- To understand how training effectiveness evolves in real-world clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Eleven therapists participated in a 6-session VR training program.
- Semistructured interviews were conducted pre-training, immediately post-training, and 3 months post-training.
- Data were analyzed using theoretical thematic analysis (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behavior model and Theoretical Domains Framework).
Main Results:
- VR training enhanced therapists' perceived knowledge, skills, and confidence.
- Actual clinical uptake of VR remained limited due to workflow, hierarchy, and lack of organizational vision/support.
- Early adoption depended on individual factors, while maintenance required organizational opportunity and support.
Conclusions:
- VR training is a necessary but insufficient strategy for implementing VR in mental health care.
- Successful VR implementation requires combining training with organization-level changes addressing opportunity barriers.
- A longitudinal, process-oriented approach is crucial for advancing digital mental health implementation science.
