VR SMART

Mutual aid and problem substance use and mental health

The gap in psychological therapies for simultaneously addressing poor mental health (MH) in people with problem substance use (PSU) is substantial and disturbing. How can we deliver psychological therapies for PSU, while at the same time improve MH? A key type of therapy is mutual aid peer support groups, which are non-professional, peer-led support groups that offer a sense of community, recovery and coping strategies to promote and support recovery from PSU. Mutual aid peer support groups can be delivered in a variety of settings. Participants refer themselves to these groups, and participation does not require a referral from a GP or other service professional.  

Delivering mutual aid through Virtual Reality Nature

Nature (outdoor and virtual) has been shown to be a therapeutic setting that improves MH. This study aims to improve MH outcomes for people with PSU by harnessing the therapeutic effects of nature and removing barriers to traditional in-person treatment (e.g., travel, stigma) by co-designing Virtual Reality nature (VRn) as a mode of delivery for mutual aid peer support groups. 

The mutual aid service that will be delivered through this intervention will be SMART Recovery, a recovery approach which uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and self-empowerment to help individuals overcome addictive behaviours. The approach focuses on a 4-Point Program designed to build motivation, manage urges, handle difficult emotions, and create a balanced, healthy lifestyle. 

Our study

The VR SMART study is a co-design study representing Phases 1 and 2 of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for complex intervention research: ‘develop an intervention’ and ‘assess acceptability’. 

This study is a collaboration between the University of Dundee, University of Stirling, the Scottish Drugs Forum, UK SMART Recovery, Change Mental Health and BearHammer Games Ltd.

We will recruit 24 people with direct lived experience of PSU and 24 substance use treatment service professionals and deliver the project in the following five work packages:

1. Co-design workshops involving to adapt mutual aid peer support group activities for delivery in VRn.
2. Produce a VRn prototype.
3. Produce an accompanying Manual.
4. Test the intervention (VRn and Manual) to discover if it is safe, feasible, acceptable and likely to improve mood, anxiety and emotional regulation.
5. Map out the regulatory pathways for gaining accreditation as a medical treatment device, assess readiness and likelihood of adoption by services in the UK health and care system.  Qualitative data will be analysed thematically and quantitative data summarised descriptively.