ReviewBJPsych open2026
Do virtual reality-based therapies affect symptomatology and psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Review in BJPsych open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVirtual reality is a promising intervention for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), offering immersive environments to support therapy. However, evidence for its effectiveness across symptom domains remains inconsistent.
aimsTo assess the effectiveness of virtual reality-based therapies (VRT) for SSDs on symptomatology and psychosocial functioning compared with control conditions.
methodA systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials using virtual reality for individuals with SSDs was conducted. Searches were conducted across PubMed, PsychINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from inception to March 2025. Random-effects models estimated pooled effect sizes (Hedges'
resultsFrom 2878 unique studies, 9 trials were eligible for meta-analysis. VRT was significantly more effective than control conditions in reducing overall psychotic symptoms (Hedges'
conclusionsVirtual reality therapies are moderately effective at reducing overall psychotic symptoms. Unlike prior reviews, this study did not find significant effects on positive symptoms, possibly due to the heterogeneity of outcomes reported in existing interventions.
trial registrationPROSPERO: CRD42023470849.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.