Randomised controlled trial of VR-based observation meditation with AI coaching ('Otti') for stress reduction in university students in the United States: study protocol.
BMJ Open October 23, 2025 Jiheun Hong, Christopher R Shelton, Hayoung Oh
A planned randomized controlled trial will test whether a single 15-minute session of Virtual Reality-based observation meditation with an AI coach ('Otti') can reduce perceived stress and physiological arousal in university students after a standardized stressor. Thirty-four students will be randomly assigned to either the VR meditation or a no-treatment leisure control. Primary outcomes include self-reported stress (PSS-10), emotional state (DASS-21, STAI), heart rate and heart rate variability, and user satisfaction. The protocol describes a 30-minute laboratory visit with pre- and post-intervention surveys and physiological recording. The study has received IRB approval and is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06704282).