Step inside to step forward: innovating youth mental healthcare with virtual reality

Author(s):
Krupljanin, N. (0000-0002-3056-1138)
Published
2026
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

This thesis aimed to review the current state of the art in VR youth mental health applications and presents the stakeholder-informed, iterative, and theory-driven development and evaluation of a VR intervention application, with a focus on feasibility and prospects for implementation. Chapter 2 critically examined the feasibility and effectiveness of current VR youth mental health applications across the globe. We then developed a VR application ourselves, starting with testing the feasibility of an interactive immersive base task (Chapter 3). Additionally, we illustrated how we developed the VR application, SHINE-VR, applying principles of co-creation with various stakeholders to increase alignment between the application and clinical needs (Chapter 4). We evaluated the final VR application using a Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED) to test its effectiveness, and a mixed method approach to evaluate client and clinician perspectives (Chapters 5 and 6), resulting in a multi-study project using multiple methodological approaches to assess the clinical utility of SHINE-VR and prospects for implementation.

Virtual Reality, Mental Health, Child, Adolescent, Assessment, Intervention, SCED
Defense date
2026-10-15
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Alink, L.R.A.
Advisor(s)
Bergwerff, C.E.; Voort, A. van der
Committee member(s)
Jonge, M.V. de; Ham, C.J.M. van der; Bicanic, I.A.E.; Veling, W.A
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Instituut Pedagogische Wetenschappen, Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen, Leiden University
Advanced publication
Yes
hdl
1887/5004439

Funding

Sponsorship
Stichting Universitas