Using Virtual Reality to Improve Job Reentry in Adults With TBI

Kessler Foundation

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Traumatic Brain Injury

Treatments: Other: Virtual Reality Job Interview Training; Other: Wonderworks

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04820634

R-1090-19

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) to improve job reentry skills in individuals with TBI.

Full description

The current study will examine a virtual reality (VR) intervention entitled "Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT)" which targets social competency skills needed for successful job interviewing, and its efficacy when applied to individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Preliminary evidence suggests that the VR-JIT is successful in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia in improving interview abilities. However, the efficacy of VR-JIT has not been evaluated in TBI populations.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• I am between the ages of 18 and 65.
• I have a diagnosis with moderate to severe TBI.
• I am at least one year post injury.
• I am able to speak and read English fluently.

Exclusion criteria

• I have a history of multiple sclerosis, stroke, seizures or another neurological injury or disease in the past (like brain tumor or epilepsy).
• I have a history of significant psychiatric illness (like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or psychosis).
• I am currently taking steroids and/or benzodiazepines as determined by study staff review of my medications.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

VR-JIT

Experimental group

Description:

In this arm, participants would participate in simulated interviews utilizing a software program and virtual interviewer, once a week for 90 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual Reality Job Interview Training

Wonderworks

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

In this arm, participants would participate in a similar intervention, also once a week for 90 minutes. However, in this arm, the intervention would be in a virtual office environment completing office tasks.

Treatment:

Other: Wonderworks