Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover Study
BackgroundVirtual reality hypnosis (VRH) is a promising tool to reduce pain. However, the benefits of VRH on pain perception and on the physiological expression of pain require further investigation. ObjectiveIn this study, we characterized the effects of VRH on t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2022/7/e33255 |
| _version_ | 1797734856326643712 |
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| author | Claire Terzulli Meggane Melchior Laurent Goffin Sylvain Faisan Coralie Gianesini Denis Graff André Dufour Edouard Laroche Chloé Chauvin Pierrick Poisbeau |
| author_facet | Claire Terzulli Meggane Melchior Laurent Goffin Sylvain Faisan Coralie Gianesini Denis Graff André Dufour Edouard Laroche Chloé Chauvin Pierrick Poisbeau |
| author_sort | Claire Terzulli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundVirtual reality hypnosis (VRH) is a promising tool to reduce pain. However, the benefits of VRH on pain perception and on the physiological expression of pain require further investigation.
ObjectiveIn this study, we characterized the effects of VRH on the heat pain threshold among adult healthy volunteers while monitoring several physiological and autonomic functions.
MethodsSixty healthy volunteers were prospectively included to receive nociceptive stimulations. The first set of thermal stimuli consisted of 20 stimulations at 60°C (duration 500 milliseconds) to trigger contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs). The second set of thermal stimuli consisted of ramps (1°C/second) to determine the heat pain threshold of the participants. Electrocardiogram, skin conductance responses, respiration rate, as well as the analgesia nociception index were also recorded throughout the experiment.
ResultsData from 58 participants were analyzed. There was a small but significant increase in pain threshold in VRH (50.19°C, SD 1.98°C) compared to that in the control condition (mean 49.45°C, SD 1.87; P<.001, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test; Cohen d=0.38). No significant effect of VRH on CHEPs and heart rate variability parameters was observed (all P>0.5; n=22 and n=52, respectively). During VRH, participants exhibited a clear reduction in their autonomic sympathetic tone, as shown by the lower number of nonspecific skin conductance peak responses (P<.001, two-way analysis of variance; n=39) and by an increase in the analgesia nociception index (P<.001, paired t-test; n=40).
ConclusionsThe results obtained in this study support the idea that VRH administration is effective at increasing heat pain thresholds and impacts autonomic functions among healthy volunteers. As a nonpharmacological intervention, VRH has beneficial action on acute experimental heat pain. This beneficial action will need to be evaluated for the treatment of other types of pain, including chronic pain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:50:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-708e63040a47494aa4f72d6b781f109e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:50:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-708e63040a47494aa4f72d6b781f109e2023-08-28T22:45:52ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712022-07-01247e3325510.2196/33255Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover StudyClaire Terzullihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0471-2182Meggane Melchiorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0999-7279Laurent Goffinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8937-7979Sylvain Faisanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3763-9425Coralie Gianesinihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0705-9158Denis Graffhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1012-6139André Dufourhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9349-8164Edouard Larochehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0607-6861Chloé Chauvinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4222-9148Pierrick Poisbeauhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6089-9201 BackgroundVirtual reality hypnosis (VRH) is a promising tool to reduce pain. However, the benefits of VRH on pain perception and on the physiological expression of pain require further investigation. ObjectiveIn this study, we characterized the effects of VRH on the heat pain threshold among adult healthy volunteers while monitoring several physiological and autonomic functions. MethodsSixty healthy volunteers were prospectively included to receive nociceptive stimulations. The first set of thermal stimuli consisted of 20 stimulations at 60°C (duration 500 milliseconds) to trigger contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs). The second set of thermal stimuli consisted of ramps (1°C/second) to determine the heat pain threshold of the participants. Electrocardiogram, skin conductance responses, respiration rate, as well as the analgesia nociception index were also recorded throughout the experiment. ResultsData from 58 participants were analyzed. There was a small but significant increase in pain threshold in VRH (50.19°C, SD 1.98°C) compared to that in the control condition (mean 49.45°C, SD 1.87; P<.001, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test; Cohen d=0.38). No significant effect of VRH on CHEPs and heart rate variability parameters was observed (all P>0.5; n=22 and n=52, respectively). During VRH, participants exhibited a clear reduction in their autonomic sympathetic tone, as shown by the lower number of nonspecific skin conductance peak responses (P<.001, two-way analysis of variance; n=39) and by an increase in the analgesia nociception index (P<.001, paired t-test; n=40). ConclusionsThe results obtained in this study support the idea that VRH administration is effective at increasing heat pain thresholds and impacts autonomic functions among healthy volunteers. As a nonpharmacological intervention, VRH has beneficial action on acute experimental heat pain. This beneficial action will need to be evaluated for the treatment of other types of pain, including chronic pain.https://www.jmir.org/2022/7/e33255 |
| spellingShingle | Claire Terzulli Meggane Melchior Laurent Goffin Sylvain Faisan Coralie Gianesini Denis Graff André Dufour Edouard Laroche Chloé Chauvin Pierrick Poisbeau Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover Study Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_full | Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_short | Effect of Virtual Reality Hypnosis on Pain Threshold and Neurophysiological and Autonomic Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers: Prospective Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_sort | effect of virtual reality hypnosis on pain threshold and neurophysiological and autonomic biomarkers in healthy volunteers prospective randomized crossover study |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2022/7/e33255 |
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