Virtual Reality Meditation Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Feasibility (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.18244
• Publication Date: 2020-02-14T03:36:47Z
• Authors: Laura Johnson Chavez; Kelly Kelleher; Natasha Slesnick; Eugene Holowacz; Ellison Luthy; Laura Moore; Jodi Ford
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 1. No poverty; 3. Good health

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Homelessness among youth is devastating, with high rates of substance use disorders and mental health comorbidity. Mindfulness-based interventions that include meditation mindfulness skills training reduce stress symptoms anxiety or depression. However, engaging high-risk in challenging. Virtual reality a more flexible platform for delivering may be appealing to youth. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> The study objectives were evaluate the feasibility virtual collecting outcome measures, including physiologic stress. <title>METHODS</title> A sample 30 experiencing homelessness was enrolled study. Youth randomized receive 10 minutes one three interventions: (1) meditation, (2) audio (through web-based platform), (3) imagery historical pictures text. Subjects who consented attended two research visits. first visit collected survey measures demographics, health, use, oriented subjects intervention platforms. second (1-3 days later) delivered pre post (salivary cortisol). Changes cortisol at compared across groups using linear regression model which primary analysis secondary analyses imagery. <title>RESULTS</title> Anxiety scores decreased all groups, larger reduction group (difference=10.8) images (difference=5.8 5.0, respectively). After controlling baseline values, there no significant differences changes levels. In comparing effect size moderate (Cohen &lt;i&gt;d&lt;/i&gt;=0.58) while small &lt;i&gt;d&lt;/i&gt;=0.08). <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Preliminary results suggest has benefit but not Future needed confirm these investigate whether effects are sustained increase repeated mediation. appears feasible deliver homeless merits further <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04004520; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04004520