Effects of Virtual Reality Meditation in Older Adults

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Older Adults; Mental Disorder; Stress
• Interventions: Behavioral: VR Meditation

• Registration Number: NCT05315609
• Lead Sponsor: Lady Davis Institute

Brief Summary

Virtual reality (VR) allows users to interact within a simulated environment using electronic devices such as a VR headset or goggles. Multiple studies with younger adults have demonstrated that VR meditation can be an important tool in reducing stress, however, this has not been studied in older adults. In this study, the investigators aim to assess the effects of a 4-week program of 15-minutes sessions, twice per week of meditation delivered through VR with the aim of evaluating its impact on stress in older adults.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-08-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-03-29
• Study First Posted: 2022-04-07
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-11
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-16
• Study Start: 2025-05-01
• Primary Completion: 2025-05-01
• Study Completion: 2025-05-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Living in the Greater Montreal area and able to speak English or French
• Perceived Stress Score (PSS)equal or greater than 10
• Over >=60 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of epilepsy, schizophrenia, brain tumor
• History of recurrent migraines or seizures or TBI in the past year
• Substance use disorders in the last year
• Psychiatric hospitalizations in the last year.
• Acute psychotic symptoms
• Acute suicidal ideation or intent
• Glaucoma
• PTSD
• Changes to psychoactive medications in the past 4 weeks
• Alcohol, caffeine or cannabis consumption within 24 hr before the session, or nicotine consumption within 15 min of the session
• Important hearing impairment
• Recovery phase of any eye surgery

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention: Virtual Reality Mindfulness Group	VR Meditation	The intervention will be 4-weeks, twice per week, 15-minute/session VR-mindfulness intervention group.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in stress scores as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for treatment group versus control group	Baseline, Once weekly during intervention	To assess the effectiveness of the virtual reality meditation program in reducing stress in older adults.; Scores on the PSS can range from 0-40, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in symptoms of anxiety as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire for treatment group versus control group	Baseline, Once weekly during intervention	To assess the effects of the virtual reality meditation program on symptoms of anxiety in older adults.; Scores on the GAD-7 range from 0-21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.
Changes in symptoms of depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale for treatment group versus control group	Baseline, Once weekly during intervention	To assess the effects of the virtual reality meditation program on symptoms of depression in older adults.; Scores on the PHQ-9 can range from 0-27, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Lady Davis Institute/ Jewish General Hospital; 🇨🇦 Montréal, Canada

Douglas Mental Health University Institute; 🇨🇦 Montréal, Quebec, Canada