Generalised anxiety disorder is a prevalent mental health condition characterised by excessive worry and physical symptoms. Traditional therapeutic approaches include cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacological treatments. Even though this treatment has been effective as it often faces limitations such as low adherence and difficulty maintaining user engagement. The pervasive and intrusive nature of anxiety symptoms can hinder concentration and motivation, reducing the efficacy of treatment.. Recent advancements in VR and gamification principles offer promising enhancements in user engagement and motivation..

This study introduces Cleanify, a gamified VR cleaning simulation designed using the OCTALYSIS framework and the Persuasive System Design model. The objective of the study is to evaluate the gamified application’s potential in improving user engagement, focus, and satisfaction for individuals experiencing anxiety symptoms. We hypothesised that the gamified version of the VR application would outperform a non-gamified version in enhancing user engagement, immersion, and user experience.

A pilot study was conducted with 54 participants aged between 18 and 40 years. Participants were assigned to either a gamified or non-gamified version of Cleanify and engaged in a 15-minute VR session using Oculus Quest. Pre-intervention assessments included the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale for baseline anxiety profiling. After completing the intervention, the Flow State Scale (FSS) was used to assess immersion and focus, and the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) was used to evaluate usability and engagement. Statistical analyses, including independent samples t-tests, were used to compare outcomes between groups.