Anxiety & Depression Association of America

Impact of Passive VR Versus Active VR on Heat Pain Thresholds and Pressure Pain Thresholds

Purpose

This is a prospective, crossover study of healthy participants evaluating the impact of passive vs. active virtual reality (VR) games on heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT).

Conditions

Pain
Anxiety

Eligibility

Eligible Ages: Between 18 Years and 99 Years
Eligible Sex: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Inclusion Criteria

greater than 18 years of age - English speaking - hearing intact

Exclusion Criteria

a history of severe motion sickness - currently have nausea - history of seizures - have hearing loss; are pregnant - are currently taking beta blockers, chronotropic heart medications, or opioids or other prescription pain medications - history of chronic pain or acute pain syndromes.

Study Design

Phase: N/A
Study Type: Interventional
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Masking: None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

Arm	Description	Assigned Intervention
Experimental Active VR then Passive VR	Participant will conduct the Heat Pain Threshold experiment or Pressure Pain Threshold experiment using active VR first and then passive VR	Behavioral: Oculus Go headset without active intervention VR software with non-interactive content. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test. Behavioral: Oculus Go headset with active intervention Participant will engage with the game display on the VR headset. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test.
Experimental Passive VR then Active VR	Participant will conduct the Heat Pain Threshold experiment or Pressure Pain Threshold experiment using passive VR first and then active VR	Behavioral: Oculus Go headset without active intervention VR software with non-interactive content. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test. Behavioral: Oculus Go headset with active intervention Participant will engage with the game display on the VR headset. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test.
Experimental No immersive virtual reality followed by immersive virtual reality	Participant will conduct the Heat Pain Threshold experiment or Pressure Pain Threshold experiment using no immersive virtual reality first and then with immersive virtual reality.	Behavioral: Oculus Go headset without immersive virtual reality experience VR headset does not display any immersive virtual reality content. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test. Behavioral: Oculus Go headset with immersive virtual reality experience VR headset displays immersive virtual reality content. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test.
Experimental Immersive virtual reality followed by No immersive virtual reality	Participant will conduct the Heat Pain Threshold experiment or Pressure Pain Threshold experiment using immersive virtual reality first and then with no immersive virtual reality.	Behavioral: Oculus Go headset without immersive virtual reality experience VR headset does not display any immersive virtual reality content. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test. Behavioral: Oculus Go headset with immersive virtual reality experience VR headset displays immersive virtual reality content. Heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) depends on the HPT limits test or PPT limits test.

More Details

Status: Completed
Sponsor: Stanford University

Study Contact

Detailed Description

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging, non-pharmaceutical intervention used to reduce perceived pain and anxiety in patients. VR's effect on pain and anxiety on patients is well-studied as is how VR games improve recalled pain and anxiety in pediatric burn and bone-fracture patients undergoing painful medical procedures. However, how differences in VR application construction (such as passive play vs. active play) impact patient perception of pain and anxiety is not well understood. In this study, we will measure the impact of passive vs. active VR applications on heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT), and immediate vs. recalled pain and anxiety levels.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.