Symptoms of DepressionNCT05973461
Effects of Exercise and Virtual Reality on Depression
A study testing Exercise and virtual reality and Riding a cycle ergometer in people with Symptoms of Depression, run by The University of Texas at Arlington at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is evaluating the effects of riding on a cycle ergometer while experiencing virtual reality to determine its effect on mood. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Symptoms of Depression
- What is being tested?
- Exercise and virtual reality and Riding a cycle ergometer
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 200 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 17 May 2022to 31 Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Males and females over the age of 18 years
- With or without symptoms of depression
- Physically inactive or sedentary (less than 30 minutes per day)
- Normal vision and no color blindness
- No physical disorders such as walking with assistance
Who cannot join
- Below the age of 18 years or over 65 years,
- Women who are pregnant
- Individuals who have been diagnosed with mental disorders
- Individuals with leg injuries
- Individuals with cardiac problems
- Individuals with a history of asthma
- Individuals with a body mass index over 30.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Xiangli Gu, Ph.D. contact
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
UTArlington
Arlington, Texas, 76019
Judy R Wilson, Ph.D., 817-272-3128, jrwilson@exchange.uta.edu
Xiangli Gu, Ph.D., xiangli.gu@uta.edu
About this study
Official title: Effects of Exercise With Virtual Reality on Females and Males With or Without Depression
This study is evaluating the effects of riding on a cycle ergometer while experiencing virtual reality to determine its effect on mood.
Read the detailed description
Adults (males and females) above the age of 18 yrs will be recruited to determine if they have symptoms of depression based on a questionnaire (Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D). They will then complete a Beck Inventory before and after the exercise. Participants will be divided into groups either having symptoms of depression or not. They will be randomized to ride on a cycle ergometer with or without using Virtual Reality (VR) that will allow them to view neighborhoods or parks during the exercise. The ergometer will be set at resistance raising the heart rate to 65% of their age-predicted heart rate maximum. They will ride for 20 min and then complete the Beck Inventory to determine any changes in their depressive symptoms.
- Conditions
- Symptoms of Depression
- Being tested
- Exercise and virtual reality, Riding a cycle ergometer
- Medical subject headings
- Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exercise and virtual realityDevice
Riding a cycle ergometer while experiencing virtual reality
Riding a cycle ergometerOther
Riding on a cycle ergometer without experiencing virtual reality
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Ergometer and Virtual Reality | Experimental | 30 min ride on cycle ergometer while viewing neighborhood scenes using virtual reality Receives: Device: Exercise and virtual reality |
| Cycle Ergometer | Experimental | 30 min ride on cycle ergometer Receives: Other: Riding a cycle ergometer |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Beck Depression Inventory Scale of Measurement
Assessment of symptoms of depression pre and post-intervention cycle exercise. The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-item, multiple-choice, self-report survey that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. The score range is 0-63. The higher the score the more severe the depression. Scores above 41 are considered "extreme depression."
Measured: 5 minutes
Spatial Working Memory (SWM)
A measure of the key aspects of working memory and storage of information over short periods of time.
Measured: 8 minutes
Neuropsychological Outcomes: Motor Screen Tasks (MOT)
MOT provides a general indication that psychomotor function is intact enough to proceed with more sophisticated cognitive testing:
Measured: 3 minutes
Secondary outcomes (1)
Neuropsychological Outcomes: MOT Mean Latency, MOT Total Correct, and MOT Total Errors
This test is a general assessment of whether there are sensorimotor deficits or lack of comprehension. Outcome is measured by reaction time in milliseconds of the participant reaching out and touching the "X" correctly (in the middle of the X) on the tablet in response to the stimulus. The maximum score is 6000 milliseconds. The number of total correct touches and total errors in not touching correctly out of 10 are recorded. Ex: MOT mean latency = 927.9 ml +/- 131.43 ms; MOT Total Correct = 10; MOT Total Errors = 0.
Measured: 10 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Aug 2023
- Study start17 May 2022
- Primary completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Symptoms of DepressionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- males and females, with and without symptoms of depression
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Xiangli Gu, PhD, The University of Texas at Arlington
- Investigators
- Judy R Wilson, Ph.D., Principal investigator, UTArlington
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05973461
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020-0376
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 11 May 2023
- Last updated
- 29 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Exercise With Virtual Reality on Females and Males With or Without Depression
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05973461
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2020-0376
- Conditions
- Symptoms of Depression
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Texas at ArlingtonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 May 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is evaluating the effects of riding on a cycle ergometer while experiencing virtual reality to determine its effect on mood.
Detailed description
Adults (males and females) above the age of 18 yrs will be recruited to determine if they have symptoms of depression based on a questionnaire (Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D). They will then complete a Beck Inventory before and after the exercise. Participants will be divided into groups either having symptoms of depression or not. They will be randomized to ride on a cycle ergometer with or without using Virtual Reality (VR) that will allow them to view neighborhoods or parks during the exercise. The ergometer will be set at resistance raising the heart rate to 65% of their age-predicted heart rate maximum. They will ride for 20 min and then complete the Beck Inventory to determine any changes in their depressive symptoms.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- males and females, with and without symptoms of depression
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Ergometer and Virtual Reality | Experimental | Device: Exercise and virtual reality30 min ride on cycle ergometer while viewing neighborhood scenes using virtual reality |
| Cycle Ergometer | Experimental | Other: Riding a cycle ergometer30 min ride on cycle ergometer |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Males and females over the age of 18 years
- With or without symptoms of depression
- Physically inactive or sedentary (less than 30 minutes per day)
- Normal vision and no color blindness
- No physical disorders such as walking with assistance
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Below the age of 18 years or over 65 years,
- Women who are pregnant
- Individuals who have been diagnosed with mental disorders
- Individuals with leg injuries
- Individuals with cardiac problems
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise and virtual realityRiding a cycle ergometer while experiencing virtual reality | Device | Cycle Ergometer and Virtual Reality |
| Riding a cycle ergometerRiding on a cycle ergometer without experiencing virtual reality | Other | Cycle Ergometer |
Primary outcome
Beck Depression Inventory Scale of Measurement
Time frame: 5 minutes
Assessment of symptoms of depression pre and post-intervention cycle exercise. The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-item, multiple-choice, self-report survey that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. The score range is 0-63. The higher the score the more severe the depression. Scores above 41 are considered "extreme depression."
Spatial Working Memory (SWM)
Time frame: 8 minutes
A measure of the key aspects of working memory and storage of information over short periods of time.
Neuropsychological Outcomes: Motor Screen Tasks (MOT)
Time frame: 3 minutes
MOT provides a general indication that psychomotor function is intact enough to proceed with more sophisticated cognitive testing:
1 secondary outcome
Neuropsychological Outcomes: MOT Mean Latency, MOT Total Correct, and MOT Total Errors
Time frame: 10 minutes
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Xiangli Gu, Ph.D. contact
Judy R Wilson, Ph.D. principal investigator
UTArlington
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise and virtual reality and Riding a cycle ergometer in people with Symptoms of Depression, run by The University of Texas at Arlington at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Judy R Wilson, PH.D. (817-272-3128, jrwilson@exchange.uta.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Beck Depression Inventory Scale of Measurement (time frame: 5 minutes). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 May 2026.