Evaluating VR Therapy Using Cold Pressor Test

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pain

In brief

This study is testing whether or not low-cost, virtual reality (VR) headsets for mobile phones can be used as a potential distractor from pain and thus would have clinical applications as a low-cost, non-pharmaceutical method to increase pain tolerance in patients undergoing painful or uncomfortable procedures. To do this, the investigators are asking volunteers to submerge their hand up to the wrist in cold water (Cold Pressor Test), either while playing an interactive virtual reality game on the headset, or while wearing a VR headset that is turned off as a control. The investigators will record the participants' tolerance to cold water as measured by how long the participants are able to keep their hand in the cold water.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03268863

Run by

Janet Vittone

People needed

48

Starts

2017-09-10

Expected to finish

2018-07-20

Last updated by the study team

2019-06-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Healthy adult Mayo Clinic students and employees

You may not qualify if…

• Participants who are known to be sensitive to VR technology and/or have undesirable reactions to VR technology (i.e. dizziness, motion sickness)
• Participants with significant alcohol/smoking histories, sickle cell anemia, history of previous myocardial infarction and/or coronary artery disease, malignant hypertension, metabolic
• dysfunctions, pregnancy, Raynaud's disease, epilepsy, severe mental disorders, chronic pain conditions, or diseases producing neuropathic pain
• Participants that have used drugs/alcohol the day prior to the study

Where it is running

• Mayo Clinic in Arizona — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
• Mayo Clinic in Rochester — Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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