Effects of virtual reality eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for adolescents with major depressive disorder: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

This study found that 12 sessions of virtual reality–based EMDR therapy significantly reduced depression symptoms and improved cognitive function in adolescents with major depressive disorder, likely by positively changing brain network connectivity.

Article Abstract

“Virtual Reality-based Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (VR-EMDR) has been proven effective in treating adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, its effectiveness in treating adolescents with MDD is less studied, and its underlying neuroimaging mechanism remains unknown. Sixty-eight adolescents with MDD and 29 adolescent healthy control (HC) were recruited. Adolescents with MDD were randomly allocated to the intervention group and the wait-list control group. The intervention group received 12-session of VR-EMDR, while another group received no psychotherapy. We used the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 version (24-HDRS) to assess the patients’ depressive symptoms; the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System (CAS) to assess the patients’ neurocognitive performance; and the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess the patients’ functional connectivity and small-world network attributes. After VR-EMDR, the linear mixed model (LMM) revealed significantly lower scores in 24-HDRS and average shortest path, and significantly higher scores in figure memory, successive processing, sentence repetition, sentence question, and total cognitive in the intervention group (all p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that significant negative relationships can be found between average shortest path and figure memory, total cognition; a significant positive relationship can be found between global efficiency and successive processing (all p < 0.05). VR-EMDR can effectively improve depressive symptoms, neurocognitive performance, and change small-world network attributes in adolescents with MDD. Furthermore, the changes in average shortest path length and global efficiency may play potential roles in the improvement of cognitive function after VR-EMDR.”

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Yan, S., Song, X., Lin, J., Zhang, Y., Lu, X., Liang, Y., Zhang, M., Wei, D., Gan, L., Zhong, S., LIang, Q., Cheng, C., & Jia, Y. (2026). Effects of virtual reality eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for adolescents with major depressive disorder: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Online. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-02976-x