Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06587607

VR Mindfulness Training for Veterans With SCI

This study involves delivering a mindfulness program that was developed for Veterans called VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) to Veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to develop accommodations to make the VA CALM program more accessible for those with SCI. It will involve delivering the unmodified curriculum to a group of Veterans with SCI first to determine what areas need accommodations, working with a group of stakeholders to develop appropriate accommodations, and then delivering 1-2 modified modules via virtual reality to evaluate whether using virtual reality was feasible and acceptable for this program.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injury Central Nervous System Diseases Chronic Pain Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Spinal Cord Diseases Spinal Cord Injuries Trauma, Nervous System Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

The objectives of this study are to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a spinal cord injury (SCI) tailored, evidence-based mindfulness group known as VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) when delivered via virtual reality (VR) The project will first assess modification needs for SCI and then explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering VA CALM-SCI over VR.

The long-term goals and significance of this study include studying the efficacy of VA CALM-SCI for the treatment of chronic pain and examining the comparative effectiveness between VR and video telehealth modalities to build evidence for the modified intervention. This work has the potential to improve care for Veterans with SCI who are at risk of being left out of innovative clinical advancements that improve quality of life and well-being, due to the complexity of their medical condition.

Aim 1: Conduct a formative evaluation of the VA CALM program to develop accommodations to improve program accessibility and acceptability for Veterans with SCI and chronic pain (VA CALM-SCI).

  • Aim 1a: Deliver the VA CALM program to 10 Veterans with SCI over telehealth to conduct a formative evaluation of the VA CALM curriculum to tailor for SCI contextual needs.
  • Aim 1b: Assemble a Steering Committee of SCI stakeholders (10 members) to develop appropriate strategies, accommodations, and recommended tools to support the delivery of VA CALM-SCI.

Aim 2: Explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering VA CALM-SCI over a Virtual Reality platform for Veterans with SCI and chronic pain.

  • Aim 2a: Assess potential VR applications and settings for delivery and testing of VA CALM-SCI.
  • Aim 2b: Deliver 2 VA CALM-SCI modules over VR to Veterans with SCI to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using VR in this population to deliver mindfulness training.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Veteran
  • Diagnosis of spinal cord injury with incomplete or complete tetraplegia based on AIS score OR incomplete or complete paraplegia based on AIS score.
  • Endorses chronic pain lasting 3 months;
  • age 18+ years
  • Access to high-speed internet
  • Endorse being (at least) minimally proficient on the computer (eg, able to check emails, read the news, etc.); be able, either independently or with caregiver support, to get online for virtual meetings and don/doff VR equipment
  • Able to speak clearly and independently to participate in focus group interviews.

Exclusion criteria

-Individuals unable to consent for research or medical care are ineligible to participate.

Treatment and study plan

VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum.

Behavioral

VA CALM is a 9 week mindfulness curriculum typically delivered at a once/week module pace in group settings during sessions that last approximately 60-90 minutes. Module topics include: Program Introduction, Why mindfulness, Perception, What Makes Something a Pleasant Experience?, Being Stuck, Getting Unstuck, Communication, Mindfulness in Daily Life, and Today is the First Dat of the Rest of Your Life.

Other names: VA CALM

Primary outcomes

  1. Mindfulness- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 1 Maximum Score: 5 Score Interpretation: Items are aggregated and averaged. Higher scores indicate greater mindfulness.

  2. Pain- PROMIS-Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 10 Score Interpretation: Single item measure, higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

  3. Mindfulness- Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 1 Maximum Score: 6 Score Interpretation: Items are aggregated and averaged. Higher scores indicate greater mindfulness

  4. Pain Interference- PROMIS-Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI, SF8a)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 8 Maximum Score: 40 Score Interpretation: Scores are converted into a T-score which rescales the score into a standardized score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater pain interference.

  5. Pain Acceptance- Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-Revised (CPAQ-R)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 6 Score Interpretation: Generates scores for two domains: Activity Engagement and Pain Willingness. Scores for each item in a domain are aggregated. Higher scores indicate higher levels of acceptance.

  6. Pain Catastrophizing- Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 52 Score Interpretation: Generates a total score PCS-T and three subscale scores: Rumination, Magnification, and Helplessness. Total score above 30 indicates clinically relevant level of catastrophizing.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Quality of Life- World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 4 Maximum Score: 20 Score interpretation: Measure is comprised of 4 quality of life domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. Items for each domain are aggregated, averaged, then scaled for final scoring. Higher scores indicate higher quality of life.

  2. Anxiety- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 21 Score Interpretation: Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety. 0-4: minimal anxiety, 5-9: mild anxiety, 10-14: moderate anxiety, 15-21: severe anxiety.

  3. Depression- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).

    Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 27 Score Interpretation: Item scores are aggregated. Higher scores indicate greater depression severity. 0: no depression, 1-4: minimal depression, 5-9: mild depression, 10-14: moderate depression, 15-19: moderately severe depression, 20-27: severe depression.

  4. Virtual Reality Embodiment- One-Item Presence Scale

    Time frame: After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).

    Minimum Score: 1 Maximum Score: 10 Score Interpretation: Single item. Higher score indicates greater virtual presence.

  5. Virtual Reality Embodiment- Virtual Embodiment Questionnaire

    Time frame: After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).

    Minimum Score:1 Maximum Score: 7 Scoring interpretation: Measures 3 domains: Acceptance (ownership), Control (agency), and Change (perceived change in the body scheme). Item scores are aggregated then averaged for each domain. Higher scores indicate greater embodiment.

  6. Acceptability of Virtual Reality- System Usability Scale (SUS)

    Time frame: After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).

    Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 100 Score interpretation: Items aggregated. Higher scores indicate greater usability.

  7. Acceptability of Virtual Reality- Standardized User Experience Percentile Rank Questionnaire (SUPRQ)

    Time frame: After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).

    Raw component Minimum Score: 1 Raw component Maximum Score: 5

    Percentile Minimum Score: 0 Percentile Minimum Score: 100

    Score interpretation: Two scores are generated and evaluated: Raw component score (1-5) which is aggregated and then averaged and percentile score (0-100). Higher scores indicate better user experience for both scales.

  8. Acceptability of Program- Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)

    Time frame: After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).

    Minimum Score: 1 Maximum Score: 5 Score interpretation: Items aggregated then averaged. Higher scores indicate greater acceptability.

  9. Acceptability of Program- Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)

    Time frame: After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).

    Minimum Score: 1 Maximum Score: 5 Score interpretation: Items aggregated then averaged. Higher scores indicate greater appropriateness.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Felicia Skelton, MD MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

(713) 794-7128

Hilary Touchett, PhD MSN BSN

CONTACT

[email protected]

(713) 791-1414

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Fed

Registry information

Official study title

Exploring Virtual Reality Mindfulness Training for Veterans With SCI and Chronic Pain

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 19, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.