RELIEVE

Improving the Quality of Life for Patients with Leukemia Through Virtual Reality-Based Relaxation Training

01/02/2026 to 31/07/2026

About one-third to one-half of patients with cancer experience psychological distress due to their illness and seek professional support in coping with it. Psychological support for people with leukemia has some unique characteristics. This is due, for example, to the intensive chemotherapy treatment required, which is accompanied by prolonged hospital stays. Treatment in an unfamiliar, sterile environment and separation from one’s familiar social circle can be stressful for many patients. It has been shown that quality of life is particularly impaired during chemotherapy. Various psychotherapeutic approaches have been developed to counteract this and to improve patients’ ability to cope with the illness and their quality of life both during and after acute treatment. One approach that has proven helpful in recent years is mindfulness-based relaxation. This refers to a conscious, nonjudgmental attitude focused on the here and now, which can be cultivated through various exercises such as guided imagery, meditation, and breathing exercises. The positive effects of such relaxation training for cancer patients have been demonstrated repeatedly in studies. Due to the often hectic and noisy daily routine in the hospital and the physical side effects of treatments, it can be very challenging to consciously relax during a prolonged hospital stay. The use of virtual reality (VR) can help with this: VR allows patients to immerse themselves directly in a computer-generated, interactive world. Unpleasant or distracting external sensory stimuli are reduced, making it easier to focus on a relaxation exercise. For example, a virtual walk through nature can enhance the experience of the “here and now” through visual and auditory stimuli while also providing a welcome distraction from everyday hospital life. Initial studies show that mindfulness- or imagination-based relaxation training, when combined with VR, is even more effective than when used alone. The goal of the project is to develop a VR-supported relaxation training program specifically for patients with leukemia and to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this program in a scientific study. Ultimately, the independent use of the VR-based relaxation training is intended to improve the quality of life for leukemia patients during their hospital stay.