Virtual Reality Meditation for Anxiety

Overseen By Thomas Caruso

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Stanford University

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Nausea, Visual problems, Motion sickness, Seizures, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 day

200 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Virtual Reality Meditation for anxiety?

Research shows that virtual reality (VR) interventions can help reduce anxiety symptoms. A pilot study found that VR meditation significantly reduced anxiety and altered brain activity in a way that suggests a calming effect. Additionally, a meta-analysis indicated that VR therapies are more effective than control conditions for reducing anxiety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is virtual reality meditation safe for humans?

Research shows that virtual reality meditation is generally safe for humans, with studies indicating it can effectively reduce anxiety without significant side effects. However, individuals with PTSD may experience some distress during VR meditation, similar to non-VR meditation. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How is Virtual Reality Meditation different from other treatments for anxiety?

Virtual Reality Meditation is unique because it uses an immersive, computer-generated environment to help reduce anxiety by shifting brain activity patterns, unlike traditional therapies that may not involve such interactive sensory experiences. This treatment also allows for real-time biofeedback, helping patients learn to control their physiological responses to stress. ^{1 2 4 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of the study is to evaluate if non-invasive, distracting devices (virtual reality) can decrease anxiety and improve affect and satisfaction in adult, hospitalized patients.

Research Team

Thomas Caruso

Principal Investigator

Stanford University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking adults aged 18-99 who are currently hospitalized at Stanford Health Care. It's designed to help those experiencing anxiety.

Inclusion Criteria

Hospitalized at Stanford Health Care

I am currently a patient at Stanford Health Care.

I can speak English.

Exclusion Criteria

I am currently experiencing nausea.

I have had seizures triggered by flashing lights.

I do not have significant cognitive issues and can consent.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants are immersed in a virtual environment using a VR headset for 20-30 minutes

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for anxiety and depression using the HADS questionnaire

Immediate after intervention

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Virtual Reality Meditation

Trial Overview The study tests if using a Virtual Reality headset with calming scenery can reduce anxiety in hospitalized patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to use the VR device and their anxiety levels will be measured.

Participant Groups

Group I: Virtual Reality Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be immersed in a virtual environment. Calming scenery will be shown via the headset for 20-30 minutes

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

No intervention (i.e. virtual reality headset) will be applied to the participant.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stanford University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,527

Recruited

17,430,000+

Findings from Research

Virtual Reality (VR) interventions have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of various anxiety disorders in adults, making them a promising alternative to traditional exposure therapy.

These VR treatments are generally well-accepted by clients and have minimal side effects, although caution is advised for Combat-Related PTSD in Vietnam veterans, indicating the need for further research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality interventions for the treatment of anxiety disorders: A scoping review. Andersen, NJ., Schwartzman, D., Martinez, C., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 810 patients, Virtual Reality (VR) treatment for anxiety disorders showed a low deterioration rate of 4.0%, which is comparable to the 2.8% in active control conditions and significantly better than the 15% deterioration rate in waiting list (WL) controls.

The study found that socio-demographic factors did not significantly influence deterioration rates, except for marital status, where married individuals in the WL condition had a lower likelihood of deterioration, indicating that VR is a safe treatment option with similar outcomes to other therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Deterioration rates in Virtual Reality Therapy: An individual patient data level meta-analysis. Fernández-Álvarez, J., Rozental, A., Carlbring, P., et al.[2020]

Virtual reality (VR) biofeedback significantly reduces self-reported anxiety and heart rate in individuals, based on a systematic review of 7 studies involving 191 participants, including 5 randomized controlled trials.

While VR biofeedback showed promise in lowering anxiety and heart rate compared to waiting list controls, it did not demonstrate significant differences in outcomes when compared to traditional 2D biofeedback, indicating the need for further research in diverse populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality biofeedback interventions for treating anxiety : A systematic review, meta-analysis and future perspective. Kothgassner, OD., Goreis, A., Bauda, I., et al.[2022]

Virtual reality (VR) interventions significantly reduced anxiety (effect size g = 0.79) and depression (effect size g = 0.73) compared to control conditions in a meta-analysis of 39 trials involving various psychological interventions.

Despite the effectiveness of VR therapies for anxiety and depression, they did not significantly reduce treatment attrition rates, indicating that while VR can help with symptoms, it may not keep participants engaged in treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of virtual reality based interventions for symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis. Fodor, LA., Coteț, CD., Cuijpers, P., et al.[2019]

Virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety disorders is shown to be safe and effective, often matching the efficacy of traditional in-person exposure therapy.

The increasing availability of affordable virtual reality systems and the development of self-guided programs could significantly enhance access to treatment for anxiety disorders, potentially addressing mental health disparities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Maximizing the impact of virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. Anderson, PL., Molloy, A.[2021]

In a study of 96 young adults, those who practiced virtual reality (VR)-guided meditation reported higher positive affect and greater satisfaction compared to non-VR meditation, especially when VR was done first.

Participants with higher PTSD symptoms experienced more distress during both types of meditation, suggesting that while VR may enhance meditation experiences, individuals with PTSD may need additional support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meditating in virtual reality: Proof-of-concept intervention for posttraumatic stress. Mistry, D., Zhu, J., Tremblay, P., et al.[2021]

A review of 27 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for anxiety disorders found that the overall quality of the studies was low, with an average adherence to only 2.85 out of 8 research design criteria.

While VRET appears to be an effective treatment option, the variability in study quality and the reduction in effect size for larger sample sizes suggest that caution is needed when interpreting the results and comparing VRET to standard treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality exposure therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders: an evaluation of research quality. McCann, RA., Armstrong, CM., Skopp, NA., et al.[2022]

The study employs a randomized controlled trial design with 45 patients divided into three groups to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) in treating Generalized Anxiety Disorders, focusing on emotional regulation and relaxation.

Patients in the VR group use biofeedback to monitor their physiological responses in real-time, which may enhance their ability to manage anxiety symptoms compared to the non-VR and waiting list groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of biofeedback in clinical virtual reality: the intrepid project. Repetto, C., Gorini, A., Algeri, D., et al.[2018]

Virtual reality (VR) is an effective and immersive tool for treating psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety, by providing controlled sensory stimulation in a three-dimensional environment.

The review highlights the empirical evidence supporting VR-based interventions and suggests that VR can be a convenient and cost-effective addition to traditional psychiatric treatments, with recommendations for its integration into clinical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders. Maples-Keller, JL., Bunnell, BE., Kim, SJ., et al.[2022]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality interventions for the treatment of anxiety disorders: A scoping review. [2023]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Reality for Anxiety Reduction Demonstrated by Quantitative EEG: A Pilot Study. [2020]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Deterioration rates in Virtual Reality Therapy: An individual patient data level meta-analysis. [2020]

4. Austria pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality biofeedback interventions for treating anxiety : A systematic review, meta-analysis and future perspective. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of virtual reality based interventions for symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis. [2019]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Maximizing the impact of virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meditating in virtual reality: Proof-of-concept intervention for posttraumatic stress. [2021]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality exposure therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders: an evaluation of research quality. [2022]

9. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of biofeedback in clinical virtual reality: the intrepid project. [2018]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders. [2022]