Computer games to decrease pain and improve mood and movement

Pain is a pervasive problem that can compromise mood and movement leading to depression and disability. Computer games can enhance self-esteem, mood, and movement in healthy individuals. To what extent such games can improve mood and movement and decrease pain in individuals with chronic pain is not known. This study compared the effects of two computer games on pain, mood and movement in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) compared to a pain free cohort. Twenty-nine people with (FM) and 19 healthy controls were randomized to play a game to enhance mood or a game with no emotional salience. Standardized measures of clinical pain, thermal pain thresholds, self-efficacy, mood, self-esteem and physical performance were obtained before and after game play. Both games improved pain threshold, mood and physical performance (p≤.019). There was no differential effect of games suggesting that for these subjects and after one game play, attention to the game rather than the game itself is the likely explanation.