Virtual Reality Treatment for Adults With Chronic Back Pain (VRNT)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women aged 18 to 85.

• Self-reported diagnosis of chronic low back pain without radicular symptoms.

• Chronic low back pain duration of 6 months or more, and pain at least half the daysin the last 6 months.

• Lower back pain as primary chronic pain complaint (greater than pain in other bodilyregions).

• Average pain intensity of 4 or more out of 10 for the past week (from BPI-SF).

• English fluency (8th grade level).

• Willing to comply with study procedures/restrictions.

• Access to Wi-Fi.

• Implicit de facto internet and computer literacy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Applicants, who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding

• Back pain associated with compensation / litigation within 1 year.

• Leg pain greater than back pain (suggests neuropathic pain; may be less responsiveto psychological therapy).

• Chronic pain other than chronic back pain.

• Diagnoses of schizophrenia, multiple personality dissociative identity disorder.

• History of major depressive disorder not controlled with medication or otherconditions that produce significant cognitive or emotional disability.

• History of substance abuse.

• Inability to undergo MRI (determined at screening; see XVI: Risks to Participants).

• Any clinically significant unstable medical abnormality or acute or chronic diseaseof cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory (e.g., chronic obstructivepulmonary disease), hepatic, or renal systems; including: history of cardiovasculardisease or issues (e.g., recent heart attack), stroke; brain surgery, or braintumor; Diabetes; cancer (last 12 months); diagnosis of a specific inflammatorydisorder: rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, scleroderma, Lupus;polymyositis; or Cauda Equina syndrome.

• History of seizure disorder, epilepsy, convulsions, or increased intracranialpressure anytime except pediatric febrile seizures.

• History of vertigo, dizziness, susceptibility to motion sickness

• History of head injury within 6 months,

• Unexplained, unintended weight loss of 'â• 20 lbs in past year. Self-reportedhistory of (digital) eye strain or computer vision syndrome. Unable or unwilling tomeet study attendance requirements. MRI contraindications as determined by MRIsafety screen (e.g., pregnancy, metal in body, claustrophobia, using the standardscreen conducted by the MRI imaging facility).