Pilot RCT Evaluates Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome — Novel Approach to ICU-Related Cognitive Impairment
247 Health News Editorial
·20 May 2026
·4 min read
·clinical-trialsNew pilot RCT investigates virtual reality rehabilitation for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome, comparing immersive VR to tablet-based training for cognitive recovery in ICU survivors. Study targets the 25-50% of patients who develop persistent cognitive impairment after critical illness.
Originally reported by ClinicalTrials.gov
References
- 1.University of Minho. (2024). Virtual Reality Intervention for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS): A Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT07585500. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07585500
- 2.Needham, D. M., Davidson, J., Cohen, H., Hopkins, R. O., Weinert, C., Wunsch, H., Zeitzer, J., Kamdar, B., Denehy, L., Chlan, L., Adkins, J., Azoulay, E., Bienvenu, O. J., Brodsky, M. B., Fuchs, B. D., Hough, C. L., Mendez-Tellez, P. A., Nirula, R., Shanholtz, C., ... Harvey, M. A. (2012). Improving long-term outcomes after discharge from intensive care unit: report from a stakeholders' conference. Critical Care Medicine, 40(2), 502-509. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e318232da75
- 3.Laver, K. E., Lange, B., George, S., Deutsch, J. E., Saposnik, G., & Crotty, M. (2017). Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11(11), CD008349. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008349.pub4
- 4.Pandharipande, P. P., Girard, T. D., Jackson, J. C., Morandi, A., Thompson, J. L., Pun, B. T., Brummel, N. E., Hughes, C. G., Vasilevskis, E. E., Shintani, A. K., Moons, K. G., Geevarghese, S. K., Canonico, A., Hopkins, R. O., Bernard, G. R., Dittus, R. S., & Ely, E. W. (2013). Long-term cognitive impairment after critical illness. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(14), 1306-1316. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1301372
- 5.Eldridge, S. M., Chan, C. L., Campbell, M. J., Bond, C. M., Hopewell, S., Thabane, L., & Lancaster, G. A. (2016). CONSORT 2010 statement: extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trials. BMJ, 355, i5239. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i5239
- 6.Jackson, J. C., Ely, E. W., Morey, M. C., Anderson, V. M., Denne, L. B., Clune, J., Siebert, C. S., Archer, K. R., Torres, R., Janz, D., Schiro, E., Jones, J., Shintani, A. K., Levine, B., Pun, B. T., Thompson, J., Brummel, N. E., & Hoenig, H. (2012). Cognitive and physical rehabilitation of intensive care unit survivors: results of the RETURN randomized controlled pilot investigation. Critical Care Medicine, 40(4), 1088-1097. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e3182428cf0
- 7.Ruhl, A. P., Huang, M., Colantuoni, E., Karmarkar, T., Dinglas, V. D., Hopkins, R. O., & Needham, D. M. (2017). Healthcare resource use and costs in long-term survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a 5-year longitudinal cohort study. Critical Care Medicine, 45(2), 196-204. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000002327
- 8.Maggio, M. G., De Luca, R., Molonia, F., Pignolo, L., Destro, M., Casella, C., Salvati, R., Bramanti, P., & Calabrò, R. S. (2019). Cognitive rehabilitation in patients with traumatic brain injury: a narrative review on the emerging use of virtual reality. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(2), 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8020265
- 9.Hodgson, C. L., Capell, E., & Tipping, C. J. (2018). Early mobilization of patients in intensive care: organization, communication and safety factors that influence translation into clinical practice. Critical Care, 22(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-018-1998-9
2
247 Health News Editorial
247 Health News is a medical intelligence platform delivering evidence-based research appraisals, clinical trial monitoring, and health technology news for healthcare professionals.
Related Articles
clinical-trials
Digital Health Platform vs Case Manager Support in Hypertension Management: Taiwan's 1,726-Participant Trial Signals a Shift in Blood Pressure Care Delivery
3 Aug 2026
clinical-trials
Phase II Trial: AI-Powered Wysa Chatbot vs Unmet Need — Digital Eating Disorder Prevention in At-Risk Adolescents
3 Aug 2026
clinical-trials
Pilot Trial Targets the Inpatient-to-Outpatient Gap: Digital Smoking Cessation Intervention for Persons With Serious Mental Illness — Key Findings for Clinicians
3 Aug 2026
This content is for educational purposes for healthcare professionals only and does not constitute clinical advice. Clinical decisions should be based on individual patient assessment, current guidelines, and appropriate specialist consultation. Editorial Standards · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service