XR Technology to Support Students with Mood Disorders: Co-Developing a Research Agenda
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Year 2024
- Principal investigator Trisha Chakrabarty
- Co-lead(s) Tracy Windsor, UBC
- Host institution University of British Columbia
- Research location Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
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Team members
- Tracy Windsor, University of British Columbia
- Shiny Sachdeva, University of British Columbia
- Lauren Mathany, University of British Columbia
- Teri Fisher, University of British Columbia
- Jonathan (Jonny) Morris, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) BC Division
- Nusrat Choudhury, National Research Council-Canada
- Mark Hewko, National Research Council-Canada
- Saeed Dyanatkar, University of British Columbia
- Ron Remick, Mood Disorders Association of BC
- Faranak Farzan, Simon Fraser University
- Edwin Tam, University of British Columbia
- Taj Dhanoa, MindMatters Therapy
- John-Jose Nunez, University of British Columbia
- Pooria Ahmadi, University of British Columbia
- Medha Amarnath Nair, Simon Fraser University
- Kamyar Keramatian, University of British Columbia
Mood disorders (depressive and bipolar disorders) affect many Canadian post-secondary students and can severely impact functioning. Many affected students do not access treatment due to limited finances, time and available resources.
Extended reality (XR) can address some of these barriers. XR includes virtual reality, which creates interactive 3D representations of the real world, or augmented reality, which overlays digital stimuli on to the real world. XR has been successfully used to deliver therapy for mental health disorders including depression. Users can also access XR therapies at a low cost, and at times and locations of their choice. Despite these advantages, the potential of XR to aid students with mood disorders has not been explored.
This project will bring together students with lived experience, clinicians, administrators and community mental health organizations to develop a research agenda to guide future investigation of how XR can support students with mood disorders. It will also create a User Advisory Committee to advise on the design of XR treatments. The outcomes of this project will ensure that future research will generate XR treatments that are effective and relevant for BC post-secondary students.