Co-development: VR-CGT

Participate in the (further) development and implementation of VR-CBT (psychosis & social anxiety) starting in June or October 2026. Participating organizations provide practical experience and feedback that directly helps with:

  • determining development priorities
  • usability and workability in teams
  • implementation approach and preconditions in mental health care

In short: participating means not only “using”, but also helping to build.

Doe mee aan het project

Interest from the board or management?

  • Strategic participation in a multi-year VR-CGT implementation project
  • Start from June or October 2026
  • Limited number of places available for the action research
  • Strategic participation in AI-VR development for mental health care

Would you like to participate as a practitioner or team?

  • Practically using VR in treatment
  • Starts in June or October 2026
  • Support, training and implementation guidance

What does this mean for your organization?

  • Low entry costs (co-financed by the Brain Foundation)
  • Insight into cost-effectiveness and scaling up
  • Active role in further development and national implementation of VR-CGT
  • Active role responsible use of generative role AI in mental health care

What do you gain from participating?

  • Working with proven VR-CBT
  • Influence on content and use in treatment practice
  • Learning and developing together with colleagues
  • Training and implementation of VR-CGT in practice
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The science behind VRelax

We want to make sure that VRelax is effective. That is why scientific research is a crucial part of VRelax. Wim Veling, psychiatrist and professor at the UMCG, works with his team at the Virtual Reality mental health lab to investigate the effectiveness, functioning and cost-effectiveness of our product.

In addition, there are several other studies and pilots that confirm the effectiveness of VRelax. Our team, in collaboration with various organizations, ensures that our product continuously improves based on validation, co-creation, and knowledge sharing.

 
 
 

UMCG Groningen

 

Crossover randomized controlled trial

2-year scientific study by the Department of Psychiatry (UCP) UMCG into the effect of VRelax compared to regular relaxation exercises.

Applied Efficiency Research 

4-year scientific research by the Department of Psychiatry (UCP) UMCG into the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of VRelax.

VRelax works closely with Wim Veling and his team from the 'Virtual Reality mental health lab' to investigate the effectiveness, functioning and cost-effectiveness of our product. As knowledge partners, we continue to constantly research areas where VRelax has an effect.

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King's College London

 

2-year scientific study into VR relaxation for mental healthcare employees at the Department of Clinical Psychiatry of King's College.

Pilot study of VR relaxation for stress among young adults at the Department of Clinical Psychiatry, King's College.

Pilot study of VR relaxation for clients with complex care needs led by Dr. Simon Riches (Department of Clinical Psychiatry, King's College).

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Amsterdam UMC

Hafize Demirci works as a physician-researcher Virtual Reality and Digital Solutions. Her focus is on the use of VR in healthcare. She is mainly involved in digital pain relief in, among other things, complex wound care.

 

2-year applied efficacy study in pain by the Department of Surgery AMC into the effect of VRelax on pain perception.

Pilot study with Bergman Clinics of Amsterdam UMC Department of Surgery into VRelax as a preoperative antihypertensive regarding the effect of VRelax on blood pressure reduction.

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Bergman clinics has started an innovative study together with Amsterdam UMC, in which VR relaxation is used as a cost-effective intervention to reduce anxiety and stress in patients on the day of their surgery. VRelax allows patients to relax and escape from the hospital situation for a while. Reducing stress may have a positive effect on the general well-being and recovery and less use of medication. This retrospective study investigates whether VRelax can help to reduce anxiety in patients and thus reduce the stress-induced high blood pressure that often occurs prior to surgery.View news item

University of Southern California is conducting research with VRelax as a self-management tool for stress management in ICU nurses. This scientific study investigates how virtual reality relaxation (VRelax) can help with stress management for nurses in clinical departments such as the ICU. The results of this study are expected at the end of 2025 and will be presented at a major international congress for nurses in Prague in 2026.
Virtual Reality Relaxation for Reducing Perceived Stress of Intensive Care Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ICU nurses experienced high levels of stress. The feasibility and immediate effect of VRelax on the perceived stress of ICU nurses during shifts was investigated. ICU nurses working with COVID-19 patients at the UMCG could use VRelax as a 10-minute break during their shift. The primary outcome was the difference in perceived stress immediately before and after using VRelax, measured with a VAS stress scale. VRelax proved to be a feasible and effective intervention for stress regulation within the ICU. It offers added value in stressful situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by not only reducing stress, but also inducing positive emotions.View research
EXTERNAL STUDY: Effectiveness of virtual reality distraction during a painful medical procedure in pediatric oncology patients. The effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as a treatment to reduce stress during port insertion was investigated in 20 children aged 7 to 14 years with cancer. The children were randomized to either VR during the procedure or no VR during the procedure (control). The children's stress was measured by self-ratings, physiological and behavioral measures. The children's experiences were also examined to evaluate how they experienced the procedure. VR relaxation was effective in reducing the children's stress on all measures.View research
EXTERNAL STUDY: Designing and developing a nature-based virtual reality with heart rate variability biofeedback for surgical anxiety and pain management: evidence from total knee arthroplasty patients. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most common joint surgeries. More than 70% of patients report moderate to high pain and anxiety surrounding TKA surgery, and 96% are discharged with a prescription for opioids. This study aimed to develop and compare the efficacy of nature-based virtual reality (VR) with heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBF) in reducing surgical pain and anxiety.View research
Virtual Reality Relaxation for Stress in Young Adults: A Remotely Delivered Pilot Study in Participants' Homes. Increased relaxation, happiness, and connectedness to nature, and decreased anxiety, stress, and sadness. Remote VR relaxation in young adults at home is feasible and effective for stress relief. The feasibility and acceptability of VR relaxation in the home environment in young adults (mean age 22,96) was investigated as an intervention for Stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants used VRelax at home for 14 days. Psychological well-being was measured before and after the sessions. Participants found the virtual beach experiences pleasant and calming. A positive effect on sleep was also reported. A significant increase in relaxation, happiness, and connectedness to nature, and a significant decrease in anxiety, stress, and sadness were measured. Recommendations were to further improve the user experience by adding more interactivity and VR experiences. In conclusion, remote VR relaxation in young adults' homes is feasible and can relieve short-term stress. Further research is needed to investigate the optimal frequency of use to assess the longer-term impact on psychological well-being.View research
Virtual Reality Relaxation for Mental Health Service Users with Complex Care Needs: a Pilot Study in Residential Care Homes and Supported Accommodation. Little is known about the implementation of VR relaxation for clients in complex mental health care. This study investigated the implementation of VR relaxation in a residential care home in South London. Participants had psychotic disorders and other serious mental health conditions. This study demonstrates that VR relaxation is easy to implement and has a positive impact on the wellbeing of clients with complex care needs living in residential care homes and supported accommodation. The findings demonstrate the potential of VR relaxation to increase engagement in talking therapies for clients who would otherwise be difficult to reach. Providing VR relaxation to larger and more diverse groups of clients in complex care has great potential to improve wellbeing.View research
Integrating a virtual reality relaxation clinic within acute psychiatric services. Main outcomes: VRelax significantly reduced stress (48%), depression (42%) and anxiety (41%). VRelax led to a 53% reduction in violent incidents and restrictive measures. This mixed-methods study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of integrating a VR relaxation clinic within the acute psychiatric unit of South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London. During the implementation of VR, violent incidents and restrictive measures were halved, with a reduction of 50,52% (from 97 to 49 incidents) and 52,94% (from 34 to 16 measures) respectively. This significant reduction has potential economic implications. The results suggest that VR relaxation could be used more broadly as a targeted stress reduction and de-escalation intervention, which could improve the therapeutic culture on psychiatric units and alleviate boredom that can exacerbate violence.View research
Virtual Reality Relaxation (VRelax) use within long-term care locations for elderly with severe psychiatric disorders. Results show that VRelax offers positive experiences and relaxation for patients. A reduction in tension and stress is measured. Practice shows that VRelax requires a different approach than the rapid provision of benzodiazepines. It is important to create awareness of the risks of benzodiazepines and side effects, to involve nurses in the implementation of new treatment methods such as VRelax, to share knowledge by sharing practical experiences with patients with each other. There is interest in the user-friendliness of the intervention, although the long-term effects are not yet known.
The importance of virtual relaxation in forensic psychiatric care with VRelax. The results show a shared view that VRelax can be a supplement to person-centred care within forensic psychiatric day treatment. In forensic psychiatric care, where patients are cared for under compulsory laws and suffer from serious mental illness, VRelax can serve as a tool by providing an alternative environment. The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate the experiences and perceptions of VRelax of 15 employees working at Regional Forensic Psychiatric Clinic in Växjöte in the Kronoberg region of Sweden. The results show a shared view that VRelax can be a supplement to person-centred care within forensic psychiatric day treatment. The results also show that employees find that VRelax has a positive effect on mood, stress, sleep, and can reduce feelings of aggression, anxiety and mild depression. Broader knowledge among employees about VRelax within psychiatric care contributes to its implementation and embedding in care processes.View research
VRelax as a potential intervention to reduce work-related stress and improve mental health among Mentrum-Arkin employees. During the COVID-19 period, Mentrum-Arkin employees experienced increasing work pressure. There was higher absenteeism, with more burnout complaints among employees. In a pilot study at Mentrum Reigersbos, 30 employees used VRelax as prevention and recovery support, which led to a measurable decrease in stress-related complaints and positive experiences with this way of relaxing. Employees were satisfied with the user-friendliness. VRelax is a potential intervention to reduce work-related stress and improve mental health among employees.
An exploration of VR relaxation in combination with scent technology, on stress reduction in elderly with dementia at Hanzeheerd/IJsselheem. The study conducted by Hanzeheerd/IJsselheem in 2022, students investigated the effects of virtual reality relaxation (VRelax), in combination with scent technology, on stress reduction in elderly with dementia. The results show that VRelax effectively contributes to the reduction of stress and misunderstood behavior in this target group. This was measured by changes in blood pressure, behavioral observations and interviews with the participants. Furthermore, the combination of VRelax with scent technology appeared to have a positive impact on the well-being of the elderly, which underlines this innovative approach and calls for further research.
Effectiveness of VRelax in Johannesbos Detox for Stress and Emotion Management. The 2021 GGZ-Centraal study aimed to determine whether VRelax is an effective and user-friendly care technology for reducing negative moods, emotions and withdrawal symptoms in Johannesbos Detox. This would contribute to minimizing the risk of relapse and making the detoxification process more humane. The results show that VRelax is effective in reducing cravings, tension, depression and anxiety. Based on these findings, the use of VRelax is recommended for Johannesbos Detox. VRelax is also considered important as an alternative intervention for home use.View article
Tactus Addiction Care: VRelax to Reduce Tension and Cravings in Patients. Since January 2021, VRelax has been used in the Intensive Treatment Clinic of Tactus Addiction Care to help patients with substance abuse and psychiatric problems relax. Qualitative research shows that patients experience less tension and cravings when using VRelax. These findings suggest that it is valuable to continue VRelax in current treatments and to investigate it further in other clinical settings within Tactus.View article
VRelax in Dementia Patients: Reducing Stress and Improving Behavior. The study conducted by NNCZ, Drenthe College, UMCG and the Technology & Healthcare Academy Drenthe in 2020 investigated the use of VRelax, a VR tool, in treating behavioral problems in dementia patients. VRelax offers immersive natural environments, aimed at reducing stress and improving behavior. In 11 dementia patients, emotional responses and neuropsychiatric symptoms were measured before and after VR sessions. The results indicate an increased sense of pleasure and well-being, although some side effects such as anxiety and dizziness were also reported.View article
ONGOING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. Fivoor 2025: VR treatment for aggression regulation in LVB in forensic care. At Fivoor, TBS patients start with VR treatment during their therapy. This treatment, VRAPT-ID, is aimed at patients with mild intellectual disabilities (LVB) and focuses on aggression prevention. It includes emotion recognition and learning to deal with tension and anger through VR role-playing. Led by GZ psychologist Patricia van Reekum, this study investigates the effectiveness of VRAPT-ID in reducing aggression and tension and improving self-regulation. Indicators such as skin conductance and heart rate variability are used to measure the results. The aim is to increase motivation for treatment and shorten the treatment duration.View article
Sint-Jan-Baptist 2025: VRelax as a treatment within forensic psychiatry. During this clinical study, we investigate whether the use of Virtual Reality (VR) is a valuable application to achieve relaxation in forensic psychiatric patients. Due to the fact that very realistic situations can be created in VR environments that forensic psychiatric patients cannot normally experience due to their limited freedoms, it seems to be an extra important asset for them that meets the limitations of confinement and restrictive measures. In addition, the highly immersive nature of the application supports patients who are unable to perform a standard relaxation exercise themselves through their own imagination or empathy. This study investigates the short- and medium-term effect of VRelax on both acute and chronic stress and compares it with a standard relaxation exercise of choice (TAU).View article
EXTERNAL STUDY: Virtual nature experiences are an effective intervention for relaxation and stress reduction in patients during detoxification phase. Addiction is a widespread problem, with high treatment dropout rates. Stress plays a crucial role in this problem. The effectiveness of virtual experiences was investigated for reducing stress during the detoxification phase in 60 patients struggling with addiction. Participants were randomized to either view a virtual nature experience, a virtual city experience, or no virtual experience. Psychological stress was measured before and after the intervention. Physiological stress was assessed by respiratory rate, skin conductance, and heart rate recordings. The results showed significant positive psychological differences after the virtual nature experience, but not in the control and city groups. A significant reduction in skin conductance (p < 0,01) and respiratory rate (p < 0,01) was also measured during the virtual nature experience. The findings indicate that virtual nature experiences are an effective intervention for relaxation and stress reduction in patients during the detoxification phase.View research
EXTERNAL RESEARCH: VR relaxation with nature experiences is a valuable strategy for improving well-being and promoting a more sustainable recovery in people with substance use disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether VR relaxation with nature experiences can reduce stress and negative emotions in substance use disorder treatment programs after 10 minutes of exposure, as has been shown in other populations. A cross-over design was used to compare the effect of viewing a nature experience and performing mindfulness-based activities. VR relaxation with nature experiences is an effective method for independently reducing stress and negative mood in people recovering from substance use disorders. It not only helps to alleviate the negative emotions that often accompany the recovery process, but also offers a cost-effective addition to traditional treatments. VR relaxation is a valuable strategy for improving well-being and promoting a more sustainable recovery in people with substance use disorders.View research
Siza & Academy het Dorp 2024: Does relaxing with a VRelax help reduce behavioral problems? In this study with cross-over design, 7 clients with an intellectual disability and behavioral problems were examined to see whether VR relaxation can reduce problem behavior during day care. The observation period included a phase without VR glasses and this was compared with a phase in which the clients had two 30-minute sessions with the VR glasses. Both phases lasted two weeks. The preliminary results of the study are promising. Observations include a more relaxed body posture, calmer breathing, and less confirmation requests from the supervisor. In five clients, the number and severity of problem behaviors were lower with VR relaxation. In one client, a decrease in behavioral problems was observed in the phase without VR, and this remained low in the VR phase. No change was observed in one client. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of VRelax in this target group.

“People with stress and psychological complaints can perform independent interventions at any time with VRelax, reduce their stress complaints and improve mental well-being.”

Prof. dr. Wim Veling, UMCG researcher and psychiatrist and Chief Scientific Officer within VRelax

The facts at a glance

  • 40% less stress within 10 minutes
  • Proven effective against stress, anxiety and burnout
  • Can be used immediately in case of mental overload
  • Proven increase in job satisfaction and productivity
  • Continuously developed with and for the end user
  • Relax in your own safe environment
Whitepaper
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Partners

Our application is developed with patients, healthcare professionals and clinicians. It offers customization, is valuable for end users and is affordable, safe and scalable. VRelax attaches great importance to scientifically validated content and the effectiveness of the app. That is why international studies are conducted on the effects of the app and the content.

Together with partners, VRelax is continuously improved based on user experiences, with the needs of users at the center. Organizations in countries such as Sweden, Belgium, England, Ireland, Germany, South Korea, Canada and the United States use VRelax and conduct scientific research together with the company.

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