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Spinal Cord InjuryNCT06587607

VR Mindfulness Training for Veterans With SCI

A study testing VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum. in people with Spinal Cord Injury and Chronic Pain, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Spinal Cord Injury, Chronic Pain
What is being tested?
VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum.
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
10 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jul 2025to 30 Jun 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 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.

Who cannot join

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

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Hilary Touchett, PhD MSN BSN contact

(713) 791-1414

hilary.touchett@va.gov

Felicia Skelton, MD MS contact

(713) 794-7128

Felicia.Skelton2@va.gov

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

    Houston, Texas, 77030-4211

    Suzette Stine, MBA BS, (713) 794-8654, suzette.stine@va.gov

    Jan A Lindsay, PhD, (713) 440-4482, Jan.Lindsay2@va.gov

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

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

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.

Read the detailed description

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.
Being tested
VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum.
Keywords
Spinal Cord Injuries, Chronic Pain, Virtual Reality, Mindfulness
Medical subject headings
Spinal Cord Injuries, Chronic Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

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

    Also called VA CALM

    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.

Study groups in NCT06587607
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
VA CALMExperimentalThis group will receive the VA CALM mindfulness programming.
Receives: Behavioral: VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Mindfulness- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)

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

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

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

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

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

  3. Mindfulness- Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

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

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

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

    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.

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

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

    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.

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

  6. Pain Catastrophizing- Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    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.

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

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Quality of Life- World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF)

    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.

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

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

    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.

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

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

    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.

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

  4. Virtual Reality Embodiment- One-Item Presence Scale

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

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

  5. Virtual Reality Embodiment- Virtual Embodiment Questionnaire

    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.

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

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

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

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

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

    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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted19 Sep 2024
  2. Study start1 Jul 2025
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
Single non-randomized group will be used to gather evaluation data on needed modifications to enhance program fit to the SCI population needs to develop a tailored curriculum for SCI. Outcomes will involve pre-post evaluation of measures to determine if there are any direct or indirect impacts of the mindfulness program as a preliminary feasibility study.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
10 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06587607
Sponsor's protocol ID
B4813-M
Other IDs
1IK1RX004813
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
4 Sep 2024
Last updated
2 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in articles to be published after de-identification (text, tables, figures, and appendices) as required by publishers, funding agencies, and or by law. Further, a Limited Dataset (LDS) will be created and shared pursuant to a Data Use Agreement (DUA) appropriately limiting use of the dataset and prohibiting the recipient from identifying or re-identifying (or taking steps to identify or re-identify) any individual whose data are included in the dataset.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum. in people with Spinal Cord Injury and Chronic Pain, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Hilary Touchett, PhD MSN BSN ((713) 791-1414, hilary.touchett@va.gov), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Mindfulness- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) (time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Mar 2026.

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