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bWell-D: Novel virtual reality cognitive remediation for depression; preliminary feasibility trial findings and improved construct validity

Poster Session B - Sunday, March 8, 2026, 8:00 – 10:00 am PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Pooria Ahmadi¹ (), Inaya Bhimani¹, Jenna Ramji¹, Hitika Gosal², Rayne Inkster², Benjamin Schwartzmann², Mark Hewko³, Nusrat Choudhury³, Budhachandra Khundrakpam³, Faranak Farzan², Trisha Chakrabarty¹; ¹University of British Columbia, ²Simon Fraser University, ³National Research Council Canada

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading global cause of disability and is associated with cognitive deficits that often persist beyond mood symptom remission. Conventional cognitive assessments may not fully capture these impairments, and current cognitive remediation approaches show mixed results in translating gains to real-world functioning. To address these challenges, the bWell Cognitive Care Platform for Depression (bWell-D) was collaboratively developed by the University of British Columbia and the National Research Council of Canada. bWell-D is an immersive, Virtual Reality (VR) based cognitive care program designed to target cognitive domains most affected in MDD, integrating both cognitive assessment and training within a single platform. bWell-D was developed through an agile, iterative process informed by expert feedback, followed by a co-design phase involving patients and clinicians to ensure clinical relevance, feasibility, and user engagement. Pilot trials with healthy volunteers demonstrated high tolerability, engagement, and enjoyment. Preliminary results from our actively ongoing single-blind randomized feasibility trial in individuals with MDD indicate promising feasibility and adherence in cognitive remediation delivered through VR. Additionally, early analyses suggest improved construct validity in the VR-based cognitive assessment compared to traditional measures of cognitive functioning. These findings support the feasibility and potential utility of immersive VR platforms such as bWell-D in advancing precision cognitive care for depression.

Topic Area: METHODS: Other