title: A Virtual Reality Game for Chronic Pain Management: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Study.
abstract: Although Virtual Reality (VR) applications have been shown to reduce many forms of acute pain, such research of VR applications and their effects on chronic pain is still at its infancy. In this study, we designed a VR game Cryoslide, and examined its analgesic effect on chronic pain patients, its end users, in a clinical setting. In this randomized, controlled crossover clinical study of 20 chronic pain patients, Cryoslide significantly reduced perceived pain compared to the baseline and the control group. The results demonstrate that Cryoslide can be effectively used as an analgesic intervention for chronic pain management to lessen pain intensity during short-term symptom spikes.
authors.affiliation: School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University.
authors.forename: Weina
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gromala
authors.affiliation: School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Squire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D012984:Software; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000379:methods*