Effects of virtual reality exposure on psychological distress in adolescent oncology patients

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer often experience significant psychological distress during hospitalization. Virtual reality (VR) is a non-pharmacological intervention, yet its application in pediatric oncology remains limited. In this study, 35 patients aged 12–21 were assigned to either an experimental group (n=20), which received four VR sessions over two weeks in addition to standard care, or a control group (n=15), which received standard care only. Psychological measures included the Distress Thermometer (DT), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y1 (STAI-Y1), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The experimental group showed significant reductions in distress (DT), state anxiety (STAI-Y1), and depressive symptoms (HADS-D) (all p<.05; Cohen’s d medium to large size). No significant changes were observed in the control group. These findings suggest that VR is a feasible, well-tolerated, and potentially effective tool for reducing psychological distress in AYA oncology patients. Such preliminary results support its integration into multidisciplinary care. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm its efficacy.