Virtual Reality (VR) in a Home Environment to Enhance Meditation in Veterans

Research Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of guided meditation modalities conducted at home: VR technology or audio-assisted meditation.

Design: Cross-over study

Setting: Independent within home environment

Participants: Veterans and Military Service Members experiencing chronic pain including post-traumatic headaches seen in outpatient Polytrauma and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinics, VA Palo Alto Health Care System

Interventions: Four weeks total of guided meditation randomly selected for using VR or audio assisted meditation first. Participants completed 15-20 minutes of guided meditation at least 3 times/week for two weeks with each modality.

Main Outcome Measures: Measuring the impact of using VR and audio meditation devices to improve sleep, stress, and pain experiences among the participants using the Insomnia Severity Index, Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale (HMSE), and Brief Pain Inventory, and numeric pain/stress scales. Mindfulness (Toronto Mindfulness Scale, Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire) and adherence measures were collected.

Results: Study is on-going. Five participants have initiated the protocol. Preliminary data indicate that VR used among our participants is greater than audio-assisted technology. The average used of VR during 2 weeks was 12 days, and 7 days for the use of audio-assisted technology the last two weeks. Two out of the five participants that have completed the treatment demonstrated greater preference toward VR technology due to the visual features of it.

Conclusions: Using VR and audio-assistance independently in a home environment can enhance a veterans’ ability to experience mediation. Providing tools and technology to veterans could help foster habitual meditation and mindfulness practices.

Author(s) Disclosures: None