Effects of Virtual Reality Immersion and Audiovisual Distraction Techniques for Patients with Pruritus

Leibovici, Vera; Magora, F; Cohen, Sarale E.; Ingber, Arieh

doi:10.1155/2009/178751

Cited by 53 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, there was no significant gain in using an HMD with head tracking compared to projecting the interactive game environment onto a blank wall. These data are consistent with recent findings that HMDs do not offer an analgesic advantage over other interactive audiovisual environments (Dahlquist, et al, 2010;Leibovici, et al, 2009;Wender, et al, 2009). The present data also extend these findings in two key ways, which are elaborated below.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Interactive gaming reduces experimental pain with or without a head mounted display

Gordon

Merchant

Zanbaka

et al. 2011

Computers in Human Behavior

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While virtual reality environments have been shown to reduce pain, the precise mechanism that produces the pain attenuating effect has not been established. It has been suggested that it may be the ability to command attentional resources with the use of head mounted displays (HMDs) or the interactivity of the environment. Two experiments compared participants' pain ratings to high and low levels of electrical stimulation while engaging in interactive gaming with an HMD.In the first, gaming with the HMD was compared to a positive emotion induction condition; and in the second experiment the HMD was compared to a condition in which the game was projected onto a wall. Interactive gaming significantly reduced numerical ratings of painful stimuli when compared to the baseline and affect condition. However, when the two gaming conditions were directly compared, they equally reduced participants' pain ratings. These data are consistent with past research showing that interactive gaming can attenuate experimentally induced pain and its effects are comparable whether presented in a head mounted display or projected on a wall.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Interactive gaming reduces experimental pain with or without a head mounted display

Gordon

Merchant

Zanbaka

et al. 2011

Computers in Human Behavior

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“…84,85) distraction with noncontact stimulation also inhibits itching in humans 86) and scratching behaviors in mice. 87,88) These findings suggest the presence of itch-inhibitory systems in the central nervous system.…”

Section: Itch-inhibitory Systemmentioning

confidence: 95%

Potential New Therapeutic Targets for Pathological Pruritus

Kuraishi

2013

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

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Very few approved medications are indicated for the treatment of pruritus, and drug development for pruritic diseases is awaited. During the past two decades, progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of the physiology and pathophysiology of pruritus. Newly identified potential targets for pathological pruritus include receptors (histamine H 4 receptor, leukotriene B 4 receptors, interleukin-31 receptor A, bombesin BB 2 receptor, toll-like receptor 3, α-adrenoceptor, and opioid μ-and κ-receptors), channels (transient receptor potential (TRP) V3 and TRPA1 channels), and enzymes (histidine decarboxylase, sphingomyelin glucosylceramide deacylase, 5-lipoxygenase, leukotriene A 4 hydrolase, and autotaxin). The development of specific, effective blockers and agonists/antagonists of these targets is awaited.

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“…One past study conducted in Israel investigated the impact of VR on itching caused by atopic dermatitis and psoriasis vulgaris. In this study data were gathered on the impact during a VR session and ten minutes afterwards [21]. This study found that VR significantly decreased itching during the VR sessions and also at ten minutes afterwards.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

(512) The impact of virtual reality on chronic pain

Jones¹,

Moore²,

Rose³

et al. 2016

The Journal of Pain

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The treatment of chronic pain could benefit from additional non-opioid interventions. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to be effective in decreasing pain for procedural or acute pain but to date there have been few studies on its use in chronic pain. The present study was an investigation of the impact of a virtual reality application for chronic pain. Thirty (30) participants with various chronic pain conditions were offered a five-minute session using a virtual reality application called Cool! Participants were asked about their pain using a 0-10 visual analog scale rating before the VR session, during the session and immediately after the session. They were also asked about immersion into the VR world and about possible side effects. Pain was reduced from pre-session to post-session by 33%. Pain was reduced from pre-session during the VR session by 60%. These changes were both statistically significant at the p < .001 level. Three participants (10%) reported no change between pre and post pain ratings. Ten participants (33%) reported complete pain relief while doing the virtual reality session. All participants (100%) reported a decrease in pain to some degree between pre-session pain and during-session pain. The virtual reality experience was found here to provide a significant amount of pain relief. A head mounted display (HMD) was used with all subjects and no discomfort was experienced. Only one participant noted any side effects. VR seems to have promise as a non-opioid treatment for chronic pain and further investigation is warranted.

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Effects of Virtual Reality Immersion and Audiovisual Distraction Techniques for Patients with Pruritus

Abstract: VRI and AVD techniques demonstrated the ability to diminish itching sensations temporarily. Further studies on the immediate and late effects of interactive computer distraction techniques to interrupt itching episodes will open potential paths for future pruritus research.

Cited by 53 publications

References 24 publications

Interactive gaming reduces experimental pain with or without a head mounted display

Interactive gaming reduces experimental pain with or without a head mounted display

Potential New Therapeutic Targets for Pathological Pruritus

(512) The impact of virtual reality on chronic pain

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