Differential effects of two virtual reality interventions: distraction versus pain control.

There is evidence that virtual reality (VR) pain distraction is effective at improving pain-related outcomes. However, more research is needed to investigate VR environments with other pain-related goals. The main aim of this study was to compare the differential effects of two VR environments on a set of pain-related and cognitive variables during a cold pressor experiment. One of these environments aimed to distract attention away from pain (VRD), whereas the other was designed to enhance pain control (VRC). Participants were 77 psychology students, who were randomly assigned to one of the following three conditions during the cold pressor experiment: (a) VRD, (b) VRC, or (c) Non-VR (control condition). Data were collected regarding both pain-related variables (intensity, tolerance, threshold, time perception, and pain sensitivity range) and cognitive variables (self-efficacy and catastrophizing). Results showed that in comparison with the control condition, the VRC intervention significantly increased pain tolerance, the pain sensitivity range, and the degree of time underestimation. It also increased self-efficacy in tolerating pain and led to a reduction in reported helplessness. The VRD intervention significantly increased the pain threshold and pain tolerance in comparison with the control condition, but it did not affect any of the cognitive variables. Overall, the intervention designed to enhance control seems to have a greater effect on the cognitive variables assessed. Although these results need to be replicated in further studies, the findings suggest that the VRC intervention has considerable potential in terms of increasing self-efficacy and modifying the negative thoughts that commonly accompany pain problems.

The use of virtual reality for coping with pain with healthy participants / El uso de la realidad virtual para el afrontamiento del dolor con participantes sanos

The present study investigates whether a virtual reality (VR) intervention can influence pain catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy and other pain-related measures reported during a cold-pressor experience. Forty-five healthy participants underwent two consecutive cold-pressor trials, one using VR and one without VR exposure, in counterbalanced order. The VR intervention encouraged participants to search actively for the correspondence between the pain experienced and a VR stereoscopic figure, which could be interactively manipulated. The VR intervention led to significant increases in pain threshold, pain tolerance and pain self-efficacy, as well as a significant reduction of in vivo pain catastrophizing. The possibilities of using VR as a tool for enhancing perceived pain control are discussed (AU)

El presente estudio investiga si una intervención con Realidad Virtual (RV) puede influir en el catastrofismo, la autoeficacia y otras medidas relacionadas con el dolor. Cuarenta y cinco participantes sanos se sometieron a dos ensayos consecutivos de cold-pressor, uno utilizando RV y otro sin exposición a RV, en orden contrabalanceado. La intervención con RV estaba basada en la manipulación de una figura estereoscópica que representaba la sensación dolorosa. La intervención con RV condujo a incrementos significativos en el umbral de dolor, la tolerancia y la percepción de autoeficacia, así como a reducciones significativas en las puntuaciones de catastrofismo. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, se discuten las posibilidades de usar la RV como técnica para aumentar el control percibido sobre el dolor (AU)

The use of virtual reality for coping with pain with healthy participants.

The present study investigates whether a virtual reality (VR) intervention can influence pain catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy and other pain-related measures reported during a cold-pressor experience. Forty-five healthy participants underwent two consecutive cold-pressor trials, one using VR and one without VR exposure, in counterbalanced order. The VR intervention encouraged participants to search actively for the correspondence between the pain experienced and a VR stereoscopic figure, which could be interactively manipulated. The VR intervention led to significant increases in pain threshold, pain tolerance and pain self-efficacy, as well as a significant reduction of in vivo pain catastrophizing. The possibilities of using VR as a tool for enhancing perceived pain control are discussed.

Control over the virtual environment influences the presence and efficacy of a virtual reality intervention on pain.

The main aim of this study is to investigate whether the control the user has over a virtual environment (VE) influences the sense of presence. A secondary purpose is to explore the relationship between Virtual Reality (VR) presence and pain tolerance during a cold-pressor experience. Ninety-four participants underwent two consecutive cold-pressor trials, one without VR exposure and the other providing a VR stereoscopic figure used as a symbolic representation of the sensation of pain. Participants were randomly assigned to an interactive condition in which they could actively manipulate the VR figure to achieve a pleasant, tranquil environment (analogous to no-pain situation) or to a passive intervention, in which they observed the changes in the VR figure. Results showed that the amount of VR presence reported was significantly higher in the interactive condition. Participants had a higher pain tolerance during both VR conditions than in the no-VR trial, with a greater increase in pain tolerance from the non-VR trial in the interactive condition. Presence scores correlated significantly and positively with pain tolerance scores. We discuss the importance of VR interaction and control over the VR environments used in VR pain interventions designed to increase cognitive control over pain.