Virtual Reality, Debriefing and Chronic Pain

Last updated: February 9, 2025
Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

N/A

Condition

Pain

Chronic Pain

Treatment

Occupational Therapy +Virtual Reality

Occupational Therapy

Clinical Study ID

NCT05254509
STUDY21110066
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

This study will determine if occupational therapy or the combination of occupational therapy and virtual reality is the better treatment for chronic low back pain (CLBP)patients.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 18 and older

  • Referred for chronic pain occupational therapy services at the UPMC Centers forRehab Services Centre Commons site.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Had a seizure, loss of awareness, or other symptom linked to an epileptic condition

  • Had virtual reality intervention within the last 3 months

  • Has sensory insensitivity such as hearing loss or low vision, as assessed by the PI

  • Has contagious disorder on the face, such as pink eye, that could be transmitted viathe VR headset or has open areas on the face that would come in contact with theheadset

  • Has a pacemaker or defibrillator

  • Insufficient upper extremity coordination to operate IVR controls, as assessed bythe PI

  • Insufficient cognitive ability to answer questionnaires or learn to use the IVR, asassessed by the PI

  • Have a diagnosis of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) or unable to understand and/orrespond in English

Study Design

Total Participants: 32
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Occupational Therapy +Virtual Reality
Phase:
Study Start date:
April 18, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
September 13, 2023

Study Description

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is defined as persistent or recurrent pain lasting more than 3 months. Chronic pain is a complex and disabling physiological and psychosocial disorder that does not provide an adaptive or protective purpose. In chronic pain, the precipitating event (e.g., fracture, sprain, trauma) is healed, and yet excessive pain remains. In Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) people experience a three-dimensional, computer-generated environment via a computer headset. IVR has been used to treat acute pain, but there have been few focused studies on the effects of IVR on chronic pain. When people with chronic pain are in IVR, they become unaware of their body and tend to move normally. We would like to test to see if IVR has a lasting effect in this study. Thus, IVR has strong potential as an additional tool in an arsenal of treatments for chronic pain. This study will examine if IVR can reduce pain and other symptoms in people with chronic pain.

Connect with a study center

  • UPMC Centers for Rehab Services Centre Commons

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206
    United States

    Site Not Available

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