Virtual reality immerses you in your mind: the experience and stress-reduction benefits of VR mindfulness modules in persons with TBI

ABSTRACT

Objective

This pilot study tested the feasibility and stress reduction effectiveness of a one-time virtual reality mindfulness module (VRMM) in individuals with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

Thirty-eight participants participated in a pilot study utilizing a mixed methods convergent parallel design. Pretest and posttest stress levels were collected; participants engaged in a brief 4-question qualitative interview. Mann Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests were used. Qualitative analysis utilized grounded theory.

Results

Post-VRMM, two-thirds (24) of participants had a statistically significant decrease in stress levels. A key qualitative finding indicated that participants found the immersiveness and realism of the VR environments helpful in compensating for cognitive deficits resulting from TBI. There were no adverse side effects reported, indicating that well-designed VRMMs that minimize motion-induced adverse effects are well tolerated in persons with TBI.

Conclusion

A guided mindfulness activity in a VR environment was well tolerated, and participants overall found VRMM effective in reducing stress levels. VR-based environments have potential to harness guided mindfulness practice and may support persons with TBI to enhance concentration. Further application of this technology in TBI rehabilitation is promising and warrants future research to explore the benefit of VR in improving rehabilitation outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Mindfulness
• traumatic brain injuries
• virtual reality
• mixed methods
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

We also wish to thank our participating brain injury rehabilitation provider sites: Success Rehabilitation and Bancroft NeuroRehab.

Disclosure statement

Both authors of this study were members of the Mind Your Brain Foundation Board of Directors at the time of submission; one author remains on the Board of Directors. This research study was funded by the Mind Your Brain Foundation through donations made by Merck, Hobblejog Foundation, and private donors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2024.2311334

Additional information

Funding

This study would not have been possible without the funding and support of the Mind Your Brain Foundation and Merck.