Smartphone-based Virtual Reality Exposure and Standard Relaxation Training for Anxiety on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

Mayo Clinic

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Anxiety; Pain

Treatments: Behavioral: iPhone Google Cardboard virtual reality meditation/relaxation app; Behavioral: Standard relaxation training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05050123

21-004947

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to compare a smartphone-based virtual reality exposure with standard relaxation training for anxiety and associated symptoms (including pain) on an inpatient psychiatric unit, and whether patients find it usable and beneficial.

Full description

The study is open only to inpatients on a specific Mayo Clinic Rochester psychiatric hospital unit, the Mood Disorders Unit. Two different techniques for reducing anxiety will be tried. The first time patients report anxiety, they will be asked to listen to a 15 minute audio CD guiding them through relaxation strategies. The second time patients are anxious, they will be given a cardboard VR goggle set and will view 15 minutes of unguided VR. Before and after each session, they will fill out a short survey of anxiety and related symptoms (including pain ratings) and their reaction to each technique. They will be asked to try each technique at least once during your hospital stay.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Hospitalized on inpatient Mayo Clinic Mood Disorders psychiatric unit (Generose 3W).

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to understand English.
• Patients with primary substance use disorders, primary psychotic disorders, major neurocognitive disorders and active self-harm behaviors and seizure disorders

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

First episode of anxiety: standard relaxation training

Active Comparator group

Description:

During a subject's first episode of anxiety the subject will be offered a session of standard relaxation training.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard relaxation training

Second episode of anxiety: virtual reality relaxation

Experimental group

Description:

During a subject's second episode of anxiety the subject will be offered a session of virtual reality exposure available through the iPhone Google Cardboard virtual reality meditation/relaxation app.

Treatment:

Behavioral: iPhone Google Cardboard virtual reality meditation/relaxation app