Effects of virtual reality guided meditation in older adults: the protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Karin Cinalioglu, Paola Lavín, Magnus Bein, Myriam Lesage, Johanna Gruber, Jade Se, Syeda Bukhari, Neeti Sasi, Helen Noble, Marie Andree-Bruneau, Cyrille Launay, Justin J. Sanders, Serge Gauthier, Pedro Rosa, Michael Lifshitz, Bruno J Battistini, Olivier Beauchet, Bassam Khoury, Stephane Bouchard, Pascal Fallavollita, Ipsit Vahia, Soham Rej, Harmehr Sekhon
Frontiers in Psychology 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1083219 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older with moderate stress (Perceived Stress Scale score > 14) |
| Intervention | Virtual reality-guided meditation |
| Dose | eight 15-minute sessions |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Older adults Virtual reality |
| Citations | 21 |
| Registration | NCT05315609 |
| Key findings | The study aims to determine whether a VR-guided meditation intervention is feasible and acceptable for older adults and whether it reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. |
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) based meditation has been shown to help increase relaxation and decrease anxiety and depression in younger adults. However, this has not been studied in Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) in the older adult population. The aim of this RCT is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a VR-guided meditation intervention for community-dwelling older adults and its effect on stress and mental health. We will recruit 30 participants aged ≥ 60 years, whose perceived stress score (PSS) is > 14 (moderate stress), and randomize them 1:1 to the intervention or control waitlist group. The intervention will involve exposure to eight 15-min VR-guided meditation sessions distributed twice weekly for 4-weeks. Two modalities will be offered: in-home and at the hospital. Baseline and post-intervention assessments will evaluate perceived stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, quality of life, and mindfulness skills. Analyses will employ mixed methods repeated ANOVA tests. Qualitative analyses through semi-structured interviews and participant observation will be used to assess participants' experiences. Study outcomes include: (A) feasibility and acceptability compared to a waitlist control (B) stress, using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); (C) anxiety, and depression, using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); (D) insomnia, quality of life and mindfulness skills, using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire Short Forms (FFMQ-SF), respectively. We will also measure immersive tendencies, sickness and sense of presence using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and the Presence Questionnaire (PQ). Virtual reality-guided meditation could be an acceptable, feasible, safe, and cost-effective novel alternative health intervention for improving older adults' mental health.Clinical trial registration: NCT05315609 at https://clinicaltrials.gov.