Virtual reality to support patients with psychosis | News

South West London and St George’s has partnered with  Phase Space Ltd  to launch an innovative pilot programme that uses specially designed hypnotherapy-based virtual reality (VR) to support patients with psychosis on their journey to recovery.

This cutting-edge approach aims to help individuals experiencing symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and confused thoughts by offering a calming, immersive experience designed to promote relaxation and wellbeing.

The trial will take place on the Trust’s rehabilitation wards, where patients will wear VR headsets to engage in calming breathing exercises and visualisation techniques. These therapeutic sessions are designed to reduce anxiety and create a soothing environment that supports recovery.

Leading the pilot is Dr Aileen O’Brien, a consultant psychiatrist at the Trust and Reader in psychiatry and education at St George’s, University of London. Dr O’Brien partnered with Phase Space to develop the VR content with students at St George’s and saw the potential benefits it could offer to patients in mental health care.

"The programme has been incredibly effective in helping students manage exam stress, offering immediate relief from anxiety," said Dr O’Brien. “We’re hopeful it can have the same positive impact on patients with psychosis, offering them a calming experience that not only alleviates their symptoms but also helps improve the overall ward environment.”

The pilot, funded by a Medical Research Council grant, will involve a collaborative design process with both patients and staff to ensure the VR experience is tailored to the specific needs of individuals with psychosis. Dr O’Brien will work closely with patients to customise the programme, ensuring its accessibility and potential for wider adoption across NHS psychiatric wards.

Zillah Watson, Co-founder of Phase Space, said: “VR is an exciting new frontier in mental health. We’re delighted to be working with Dr O’Brien to find new ways to support patients with psychosis, and in particular to develop easy and accessible ways to use VR on wards so that more patients can benefit.”

A short video featuring students from St George’s, University of London, sharing their experiences with the Phase Space programme is available to  watch here.