TRIPP PsyAssist Completes Phase 1 Feasibility Study, Demonstrating Promising Results for Virtual Reality as a Pre-Treatment Experience Prior to Ketamine Dosing

TRIPP, the award-winning global XR wellness company, today announced the completion of TRIPP PsyAssist’s Phase 1 Proof Of Concept (POC) Feasibility Study. The study focuses on investigating the effects of a Virtual Reality (VR) experience before Ketamine dosing and was conducted at the esteemed Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute in San Diego, with analysis provided by Valis Biosciences.

The Journal of Psychopharmacology reports 50% of participants who received ketamine treatment showed significant improvement in their PTSD symptoms. Despite psychedelics gaining ground in mainstream medicine, patients still need help managing pre-session anxiety, onboarding effectively, and integrating their experiences after treatment, whether in a clinic or at home. Phase 1 of the TRIPP PsyAssist study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of guided, meditative imagery delivered in virtual reality on the Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye headset as a pre-treatment program in a real-world clinical context. Participants for the study were recruited from patients who had already consented to receive ketamine treatments for their depression or anxiety at Kadima. The study also assessed participant satisfaction, engagement and usage to determine the feasibility and acceptability of this approach prior to these consciousness-altering experiences.

“We were excited to have this important feasibility study conducted at Kadima and thrilled about the positive findings,” said David Feifel, MD, PhD, President of Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute. “VR technology has great potential to enhance mental wellness, and TRIPP PsyAssist is at the forefront of translating that potential into reality. This study represents an important step in that direction.”

Though the results from the study have yet to be published, a full data analysis with eye-tracking data included is in progress. Key preliminary findings* from the data gathered include:

• 80% of users reported wanting to use the system frequently.
• 100% of users found the various functions in the system well integrated.
• 90% of users imagine most people would learn to use this system quickly.
• 100% of users felt very confident using the system.

“At TRIPP, we are dedicated to empowering individuals on their path to healing. Our mission is to unlock the transformative potential of immersive experiences, and we believe in the power of virtual reality to enhance therapeutic interventions,” said CEO and Founder Nanea Reeves. “The organic interest from these researchers has propelled us to explore new frontiers in mental health treatment, and we are excited to continue pushing boundaries to create impactful solutions for those in need.”

Completing the Phase 1 study also sets the stage for future research and development efforts, paving the way for integrating TRIPP PsyAssist’s innovative technology into mainstream clinical practices. To further showcase their groundbreaking research, Reeves will be joined by TRIPP’s Clinical Director of Operations, Sunny Strasburg, and Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute’s Director, David Feifel, who will be speaking at the upcoming MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference (PS23) in Denver, CO, held from June 19th to June 23rd. Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience TRIPP firsthand at the Kadima booth during the conference, immersing themselves in the transformative potential of the platform.

”The TRIPP PsyAssist research team and I are pleased with the successful preliminary results of our feasibility study,” said Sunny Strasburg, LMFT, Clinical Director of Operations at TRIPP. “These findings inspire us to forge ahead in uncovering new frontiers within clinical settings where technology and psychedelic medicine converge. We look forward to expanding the study to explore further applications of PsyAssist in clinical settings"

To register and secure your spot at the largest-ever psychedelic conference, visit https://psychedelicscience.org/.

Mental health and well-being clinics interested in joining the waitlist for TRIPP PsyAssist can visit tripp.com/psyassist.

About TRIPP
TRIPP is pioneering XR wellness technologies for consumers, enterprises and clinics. Available across VR, AR, and mobile, the research-based platform works to deepen connection to self, facilitate well-being and enable personal and collective transformation. The company’s consumer platform is currently available on mobile (iOS and Android), all Meta Quest platforms, Sony PSVR, HTC Vive Flow, Qualcomm Snapdragon Spaces, and Nreal’s mixed reality glasses. For enterprises, TRIPP delivers wellness solutions that spark greater creativity, empathy, innovation, positivity, and calm across work environments, both physical and remote. TRIPP’s clinical-focused offering, PsyAssist, is currently undergoing clinical studies and go-to-market preparation to digitally support mental health in novel ways.

Reference:
*Sunny Strasburg, LMFT and Christian Yavorsky, PhD (2023). “ Effects of a Virtual Reality PsyAssist Calm Experience Program on Pre-treatment Anxiety Prior to Ketamine Dosing.” Study ID: WCG IRB-20223488.

Contact Information

Sara Bonadies

Senior Account Executive

VSC for TRIPP

tripp@vsc.co