Meditating in virtual reality: Proof-of-concept intervention for posttraumatic stress.
Divya Mistry, Jenney Zhu, Paul Tremblay, Christine Wekerle, Ruth A. Lanius, Rakesh Jetly, Paul Frewen
Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy November 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1037/tra0000959 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPracticing meditation with virtual reality (VR) guidance boosted positive affect and perceived satisfaction-credibility more than non-VR guided meditation, but only when the VR session came first. Negative affect during meditation was rare overall, though people with more PTSD symptoms reported greater distress in both VR and non-VR conditions. The findings suggest VR could aid meditation practice, especially for those with PTSD symptoms, but more research is needed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Within-group mixed-methods study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 96 |
| Population | Young adults varying in PTSD symptoms |
| Interventions | VR-guided meditation non-VR-guided meditation |
| Key finding | VR-guided meditation increased positive affect and perceived satisfaction-credibility compared to non-VR meditation primarily when practiced first. |
Abstract
Objective: We investigate the potential therapeutic application of virtual reality (VR) technology as an aid to meditation practice among persons varying in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Method: In this within-group mixed-methods study, 96 young adults practiced both VR- and non-VR-guided meditations and reported on their experience of positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), other meditative experiences and perceived satisfaction-credibility of each meditation. Results: Participants reported more PA and greater perceived satisfaction-credibility following the VR as compared to non-VR-guided meditations primarily when the VR meditation was practiced first, before the non-VR meditation, as opposed to vice versa. The experience of NA during meditation practice was infrequent, although persons with increased PTSD symptoms reported increased distress during both VR and non-VR meditation. Conclusions: Further study of therapeutic applications of VR as an aid to meditation practice among people with PTSD symptoms is warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).