Impact of In-Person and Virtual World Mindfulness Training on Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.
Valerie J Rice, Baoxia Liu, Paul J Schroeder
Military Medicine March 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usx227 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pseudo-randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | U.S. military active duty service members and veterans |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation training |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Key findings | In-person mindfulness training produced clinically relevant reductions in PTSD symptoms, and both in-person and virtual-world training reduced ADHD symptoms, while the control group showed no change. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation training has been shown to reduce stress and improve short-term memory for military personnel. However, no studies have investigated the effects of in-person and virtual world (VW) mindfulness training on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. In this study, U.S. military active duty service members and veterans were pseudo-randomized into two mindfulness training groups: in-person (IP) and online via a VW, and a wait-list control group. Volunteers answered a demographic questionnaire, and completed the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M) and ADHD Current Symptoms Scale before and after training. The results showed practical and clinically relevant reductions in PTSD symptoms, particular for the IP group, but did not show statistical relevance with hypothesis testing. Results also showed post-training reductions in ADHD symptoms for both IP and VW groups, but no change for the control group. To investigate the effects of initial ADHD symptoms, IP and VW groups were combined into a single Mindfulness Training group. Those with high-initial ADHD symptoms attending training showed improvements, but the control group did not. These results expand research on the mindfulness training, and suggest that IP mindfulness training, rather than VW training, may be of greater benefit for those with PTSD symptoms, while either delivery system appears adequate for reducing attentional symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Effects of mindfulness meditation training offered in-person and via a virtual world on self-compassion: A study with U.S. military active duty and veterans. Work 2024
- A systematic review on mindfulness-based immersive interventions in depressive disorders npj Mental Health Research April 2, 2026
- The effects of mindfulness based stress reduction on students at a senior military college. Military psychology : the official journal of the Division of Military Psychology, American Psychological Association June 2, 2025
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Military Populations with Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine September 1, 2024
- Effects and safety of virtual reality-based mindfulness in patients with psychosis: a randomized controlled pilot study. Schizophrenia September 13, 2023
and 4 more in the library
Cites 4
- Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Reduces Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation in Veterans Medical Care November 13, 2014
- Mindfulness online: an evaluation of the feasibility of a web-based mindfulness course for stress, anxiety and depression BMJ Open November 1, 2013
- Mindfulness Meditation Training in Adults and Adolescents With ADHD Journal of Attention Disorders May 1, 2008
- Mindfulness training modifies subsystems of attention. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience June 2007