title: Virtual reality hypnosis: a case report.
abstract: This preliminary case report explored the use of hypnosis induced through a 3-dimensional, immersive, computer-generated virtual reality (VR) world as a means to control pain and anxiety in a patient with a severe burn injury. On hospitalization Day 40, after reports of uncontrollable pain and anxiety, the patient underwent hypnotic induction while immersed in a virtual world and received posthypnotic suggestions for decreased pain and anxiety during subsequent wound-care sessions. The patient's pain and anxiety each dropped 40% after VR hypnosis on a Graphic Rating Scale for his Day 41 wound care. Pain dropped similar levels on Day 42 with an audio-only version of the intervention and then returned to baseline without intervention on Day 43.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98104, USA. davepatt@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Tininenko
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Sam R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sharar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014584:User-Computer Interface