gameChange by RealizedCare

RealizedCare is addressing agoraphobic avoidance and distress, which can lead to severe social isolation and loneliness. Its virtual-reality-based therapeutic, gameChange, delivers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that help Veterans learn coping techniques in a safe environment. Loneliness is a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation and behavior, and helping Veterans feel more comfortable in everyday public settings may help to reduce isolation and loneliness.

Providing a safe environment to build confidence and cope with anxiety 

Through gameChange, Veterans will be able to practice interactions that are common in public places such as grocery stores, coffee shops, and public transportation. In these immersive scenarios, which progress with increasing difficulty, they can practice emotional regulation and build self-efficacy.  Addressing agoraphobic avoidance may also help Veterans in seeking in-person care, expanding access to critical support services. RealizedCare’s gameChange was the basis for the world’s first large-scale clinical trial of VR technology to treat severe mental illness. Ongoing research will provide data needed to build understanding of its impact on suicide risk factors.

What comes next: Bringing virtual reality-based therapy to Veterans

While only approved for use in the United Kingdom, where it has a Class I UKCA mark, gameChange received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Breakthrough Device Designation in 2022 as the world’s first immersive therapeutic for serious mental illness. Through Mission Daybreak, RealizedCare is now preparing for in-clinic trial and/or study deployment by training teams and conducting testing to identify best practices.

To learn more about VA benefits, services, and other resources, visit va.gov/contact-us/.