Mediating Mindfulness-Based Interventions with Virtual Reality in Non-Clinical Populations: The State-of-the-Art.
Chiara Failla, Flavia Marino, Luca Bernardelli, Andrea Gaggioli, Germana Doria, Paola Chilà, Roberta Minutoli, Rita Mangano, Roberta Torrisi, Gennaro Tartarisco, Roberta Bruschetta, Francesco Arcuri, Antonio Cerasa, Giovanni Pioggia
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) June 29, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10071220 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Non-clinical populations |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Virtual reality Negative mood Non-clinical populations Physiological measures |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that a single VR-enhanced mindfulness meditation session appeared sufficient to significantly reduce negative mood states (anxiety, anger, depression, tension) and increase mindfulness skills in non-clinical populations, but physiological correlates were rarely investigated and the evidence base remains limited by poor RCT design, lack of physiological measures, and high heterogeneity across studies. |
Abstract
Mindfulness is one of the most popular psychotherapeutic techniques that help to promote good mental and physical health. Combining mindfulness with immersive virtual reality (VR) has been proven to be especially effective for a wide range of mood disorders for which traditional mindfulness has proven valuable. However, the vast majority of immersive VR-enhanced mindfulness applications have focused on clinical settings, with little evidence on healthy subjects. This narrative review evaluates the real effectiveness of state-of-the-art mindfulness interventions mediated by VR systems in influencing mood and physiological status in non-clinical populations. Only studies with an RCT study design were considered. We conclude that most studies were characterized by one single meditation experience, which seemed sufficient to induce a significant reduction in negative mood states (anxiety, anger, depression, tension) combined with increased mindfulness skills. However, physiological correlates of mindfulness practices have scarcely been investigated. The application of VR-enhanced mindfulness-based interventions in non-clinical populations is in its infancy since most studies have several limitations, such as the poor employment of the RCT study design, the lack of physiological measurements (i.e., heart rate variability), as well as the high heterogeneity in demographical data, technological devices, and VR procedures. We thus concluded that before applying mindfulness interventions mediated by VR in clinical populations, more robust and reliable methodological procedures need to be defined.