Feasibility of an Immersive Virtual Reality Based Biofeedback Intervention for Outpatients in Rheumatology

The intervention uses a smart phone with a virtual reality app; a headset that connects to the phone and has goggles that contribute to the 3 dimensional, interactive, and surrounding aspects of the experience; headphones through which subjects hear calming sounds and guiding voices from the experience; an attached microphone that allows subjects to monitor their breathing and interact with their environment through their breath; and a heart rate monitor whose realtime data on variability has an affect on the virtual environment. The virtual reality experience guides subjects through deep breathing exercises. Subjects will attempt to match a certain slow breathing rate, and pulse and breathing rate will cause non-stressful changes to the environment.