The effect of virtual reality interventions on reducing pain intensity in chronic pain patients: a systematic review

Abstract

The use of virtual reality (VR) for the management of chronic pain is an intriguing topic. Given the abundance of VR stuies and the numerous opportunities presented by this technology in healthcare, a systematic review that focuses on VR and its applications in chronic pain is necessary to shed light on the various modalities available and their actual effectiveness. This systematic review aims to explore the efficacy of reducing pain and improving pain management through CR interventions for people suffering from chronic pain. Following the PRISMA guidelines, data collection was conducted between December 2020 and February 2021 from the following databases: Cochrane Evidence, JSTOR, Science Direct, PubMed Medline, PubMed NIH, Springer Link, PsychNET, PsychINFO - OVID and PsycARTICLES, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, ProQuest - MEDLINE®, Sage Journals, NCBI – NLM catalog, Medline OVID, Medline EBSCO, Oxford Handbooks Online, PSYNDEX OVID, Google Scholar. Seventeen articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Our results highlight that VR interventions, on a global scale, lead to an improvement in pain-related variables, particularly in reducing pain intensity. However, the analyzed articles vary significantly, making them challenging to compare. Future studies could focus on specific types of VR interventions to reduce heterogeneity and conduct a more specific analysis. In conclusion, VR interventions have demonstrated their validity and adaptability as a method for managing chronic pain. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to delve into the various categories of VR interventions in more detail.