Virtual reality hypnosis to support psychological restoration and well-being among neonatal intensive care unit nurses: A randomized controlled trial
Stéphane Pasquet, Anne Wojtanowski, Estelle Michinov
Applied Nursing Research October 5, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2026.152156 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial with a mixed-methods evaluation Preregistered Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 41 |
| Population | Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses |
| Intervention | Virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) |
| Duration | 6-week intervention; two-month follow-up |
| Registration | NCT06786962 |
| Key findings | Both groups reduced anxiety, compassion fatigue, and negative emotions, but VRH produced significantly greater gains in perceived psychological restoration and higher subjective relaxation across sessions, while physiological stress indicators increased in the control group. The authors report self-reported benefits persisted at two months and suggest VRH mainly supports psychological restoration rather than short-term autonomic effects. |
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the effects of virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) on psychological restoration, stress, and workplace well-being among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses.
Design: A 6-week randomized controlled trial with a mixed-methods evaluation.
Methods: Forty-one NICU nurses were randomly assigned to a VRH intervention group (n = 22) or an active control group (n = 19). Emotional state, anxiety, compassion fatigue, perceived restoration, work-related quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention. Indicators of stress were collected during the intervention. Acceptability and participants' subjective experiences were assessed during the intervention and at a two-month follow-up.
Results: Both groups experienced reductions in anxiety, compassion fatigue, and negative emotions. The VRH group reported significantly greater improvements in perceived psychological restoration from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Across sessions, VRH participants consistently reported higher subjective relaxation, whereas physiological stress indicators increased in the control group without corresponding relaxation. Qualitative findings indicated that VRH facilitated psychological detachment from work, recovery during breaks, and sustained well-being at two-month follow-up.
Conclusions: VRH is a feasible, acceptable, and promising intervention to enhance psychological recovery and well-being in high-stress clinical settings, with self-reported benefits still evident two months after the intervention ended. Subjective improvements were more pronounced than the within-session physiological changes, suggesting that VRH primarily supports psychological restoration processes rather than producing short-term autonomic effects. Brief VRH sessions integrated into work breaks can support nurses' psychological recovery, reduce compassion fatigue, and strengthen workforce resilience in intensive care units.
Registration: This study was preregistered on ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT06786962 ).