Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34120220›Full record

SynthesisSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2021

Virtual reality relaxation for the general population: a systematic review.

Simon Riches, Lisa Azevedo, Leanne Bird, Sara Pisani, Lucia Valmaggia

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 70 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
70citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05601908 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Virtual Reality Relaxation Intervention for Mental Health Staff

TypeinterventionalSponsorKing's College LondonRan2022 to 2023Enrolled38ConditionsPsychological Burnout, Stress, Psychological, Mental Health BurdenArmsVirtual Reality Relaxation
NCT07349563 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Effect of Nature-Based Virtual Reality and Two-Dimensional Nature Videos on OSCE-Related Exam Stress in Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorAcibadem UniversityRan2025 to 2026Enrolled60ConditionsStress, Virtual Reality, Students, NursingArmsNature-Based Virtual Reality, 2D Nature Video
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

70 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Physiological Responses to Virtual Reality-Based Stress Regulation and Relaxation Interventions: A Systematic Review.Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress · 2026
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Trial
  10. Trial
  11. Trial
  12. Trial
  13. Trial
  14. Trial
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

10 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Simon RichesDepartment of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK. simon.j.riches@kcl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1427-5561
Lisa AzevedoSouth London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, BR3 3BX, Kent, UK.
Leanne BirdDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Sara PisaniDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Lucia ValmaggiaDepartment of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeRelaxation has significant restorative properties and implications for public health. However, modern, busy lives leave limiting time for relaxation. Virtual reality (VR) experiences of pleasant and calming virtual environments, accessed with a head-mounted display (HMD), appear to promote relaxation. This study aimed to provide a systematic review of feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of studies that use VR to promote relaxation in the general population (PROSPERO 195,804).

methodsWeb of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, and MEDLINE were searched until 29th June 2020. Studies were included in the review if they used HMD technology to present virtual environments that aimed to promote or measure relaxation, or relaxation-related variables. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool was used to assess methodological quality of studies.

results6403 articles were identified through database searching. Nineteen studies published between 2007 and 2020, with 1278 participants, were included in the review. Of these, thirteen were controlled studies. Studies predominantly used natural audio-visual stimuli to promote relaxation. Findings indicate feasibility, acceptability, and short-term effectiveness of VR to increase relaxation and reduce stress. Six studies received an EPHPP rating of 'strong', seven were 'moderate', and six were 'weak'.

conclusionsVR may be a useful tool to promote relaxation in the general population, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when stress is increasing worldwide. However, methodological limitations, such as limited randomised controlled trials and longer-term evidence, mean that these conclusions should be drawn with caution. More robust studies are needed to support this promising area of VR relaxation.

Indexed as

COVID-19Virtual RealityHumansPandemicsResearch DesignSARS-CoV-2COVID-19Relaxation techniqueRestorationStress managementVirtual environmentWellbeing

Identifiers

PMID34120220
PMCPMC8197783

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.