VR Mindfulness for Mental Wellness

Overseen By Steven Bird, MD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Disqualifiers: Not willing to receive texts

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

32 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

Burnout shares symptoms with anxiety and depression. While there is no single intervention for burnout, there are validated interventions (which are amenable to virtual reality (VR)) for anxiety and depression. UMassMemorial data from the Professional Well-Being Academic Consortium show that MD burnout and distress has increased since 2020. The investigators believe providing clinicians with a unique tool (VR) will be a feasible and efficacious way to tackle distress. It is known that only 1% of our MDs have done mindfulness training but nearly 50% are interested in doing so. Therefore, a self-administrable, interactive mindfulness program delivered over VR has great potential to reach clinicians who want to practice a more active form of mindfulness at a time convenient to them. The results of the study will provide preliminary evidence to determine if a take-home VR mindfulness program decreases clinician stress.

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

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

Is VR Mindfulness generally safe for humans?

Research on VR Mindfulness shows that it is generally safe, with mild VR sickness reported in some cases. Studies have shown that while some participants may experience mild discomfort, the overall safety profile is acceptable. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the VR Mindfulness Program treatment different from other treatments for mental wellness?

The VR Mindfulness Program is unique because it uses virtual reality to create an immersive environment that enhances mindfulness practice by increasing the sense of presence and reducing real-world distractions, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with traditional mindfulness techniques. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

What data supports the effectiveness of the VR Mindfulness Program treatment?

Research shows that using Virtual Reality (VR) for mindfulness can help people feel more present and focused, leading to less sadness, anger, and anxiety. VR mindfulness has been found to be effective in improving mental health and is well-accepted by users, making it a promising tool for mental wellness. ^{4 6 7 10 11}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Steven Bird, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for clinicians experiencing increased burnout, stress, anxiety, or depression. It's aimed at those interested in mindfulness but haven't practiced it much. Participants should be willing to use a VR tool for mindfulness training.

Inclusion Criteria

Physician or APP employed by the Medical Group

Exclusion Criteria

I am not willing to receive 2 texts per week.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline questionnaires for anxiety, depression, stress, and resilience

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

VR Mindfulness Intervention

Participants in the intervention group use the VR mindfulness program for 12 weeks with twice-weekly reminders

12 weeks

Self-administered

Midpoint Assessment

Participants retake questionnaires to assess changes in anxiety, depression, stress, and resilience

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Control Group Intervention

Control group receives VR headsets and begins 12-week mindfulness program

12 weeks

Self-administered

Final Assessment

Participants complete final questionnaires to assess usability and changes in anxiety, depression, stress, and resilience

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any long-term effects after the intervention

12 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• VR Mindfulness Program

Trial Overview The study tests if a virtual reality-based mindfulness program can reduce clinician stress and burnout. Clinicians will use a take-home VR system to engage in interactive mindfulness exercises at their convenience.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention - VR Mindfulness Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The intervention group will be given the VR headset for their unrestricted use over the 12 week intervention period. The VR headset is exceptionally easy and intuitive to use. Each participant will have the choice of 20 "locations" in which to use the mindfulness-based program. Each of the 20 locations/programs are different. They range in length from 5 minutes (introductory) to 20 minutes.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The control arm will not have any intervention. However, at the conclusion of the study, all participants from the Control group will be given the VR intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

372

Recruited

998,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A pilot study with 44 mindfulness experts using Virtual Reality (VR) for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT®) mindfulness training showed significant improvements in state of mindfulness and reductions in negative emotions like sadness, anger, and anxiety.

Participants experienced a strong sense of presence in the VR environment and accepted it as a useful tool for mindfulness practice, suggesting that VR could enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of mindfulness training for those who struggle with traditional methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meditation experts try Virtual Reality Mindfulness: A pilot study evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of Virtual Reality to facilitate mindfulness practice in people attending a Mindfulness conference. Navarro-Haro, MV., López-Del-Hoyo, Y., Campos, D., et al.[2023]

Virtual reality (VR) has been effectively used over the past 20 years to enhance mental health across various clinical conditions, including chronic pain, neurological disorders, and psychological issues.

Recent studies indicate that VR can help correct perceptual distortions of self and environment, which are crucial for mental well-being, by creating virtual body ownership illusions, suggesting a promising avenue for future clinical applications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Body Ownership Illusions for Mental Health: A Narrative Review. Matamala-Gomez, M., Maselli, A., Malighetti, C., et al.[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]

In a pilot study with 47 healthy participants, both immersive virtual reality (VR) mindfulness and computer-based mindfulness meditation effectively reduced negative emotions, but there were no significant differences in mood improvement between the two methods.

The study found that using VR did not cause simulator sickness, indicating that it is a safe and viable method for delivering mindfulness interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Immersive virtual reality or computerised mindfulness meditation for improving mood? Preliminary efficacy from a pilot randomised trial. Poetar, CR., Bradley, N., Voinescu, A.[2023]

In a pilot study involving 64 patients with psychosis, virtual reality-based mindfulness (VBM) showed some positive effects, such as increased decentering and reduced preoccupation with delusions, although it did not significantly outperform a VR control group.

While VBM was generally safe with mild VR sickness reported, it did not demonstrate a clear advantage in reducing psychiatric symptoms compared to the control, indicating that further research is needed to explore its efficacy in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects and safety of virtual reality-based mindfulness in patients with psychosis: a randomized controlled pilot study. Lee, BM., Kim, SW., Lee, BJ., et al.[2023]

Citations

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

Meditation experts try Virtual Reality Mindfulness: A pilot study evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of Virtual Reality to facilitate mindfulness practice in people attending a Mindfulness conference. [2023]

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

The effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) based mindfulness training on improvement mental-health in adults: A narrative systematic review. [2023]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Body Ownership Illusions for Mental Health: A Narrative Review. [2021]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Freely Available Virtual Reality Experiences as Tools to Support Mental Health Therapy: a Systematic Scoping Review and Consensus Based Interdisciplinary Analysis. [2022]

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

Enhanced Mental Health with Virtual Reality Mental Hygiene by a Veteran Suffering from PTSD. [2021]

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

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

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Immersive virtual reality or computerised mindfulness meditation for improving mood? Preliminary efficacy from a pilot randomised trial. [2023]

8. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects and safety of virtual reality-based mindfulness in patients with psychosis: a randomized controlled pilot study. [2023]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of a mindfulness-based programme with and without virtual reality support to reduce stress in university students: A randomized controlled trial. [2021]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mediating Mindfulness-Based Interventions with Virtual Reality in Non-Clinical Populations: The State-of-the-Art. [2022]

11. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of an 8-Week Web-Based Mindfulness Virtual Community Intervention for University Students on Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]