Cognitive Behavioral Theory-assisted Virtual Reality for Chronic CANcer Pain (VR-CAN)

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cancer, Cancer Pain, Chronic Cancer Pain

In brief

While chronic cancer pain affecting as many as 75% of patients is typically addressed using pharmacologic interventions, experts and patients alike support maximizing any relevant non-pharmacologic interventions as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Virtual reality, a novel technology that can temporarily immerse users in a calm, pleasant environment, has been increasingly shown to facilitate improvement in different acute and chronic pain syndromes by providing distraction from pain and lowering pain sensation. To address the significant needs of patients living with chronic cancer pain, we aim to develop and pilot test a prototype device that will leverage cognitive behavioral therapy principles to deliver a novel virtual reality pain therapy. The investigators will do this through the following steps: Step 1. Develop and refine a CBT-assisted VR prototype for patients with chronic cancer pain (VR-CAN). Step 2. Conduct a randomized controlled trial to examine the feasibility, acceptability, usability, safety, and initial clinical impact of the developed VR-CAN prototype compared to a tablet-based two-dimensional video control group. Step 3. Collect and evaluate qualitative post-intervention data on VR-CAN participants' preferences, thoughts, and feelings about the VR-CAN technology and protocol to optimize for a future, larger, fully powered randomized controlled trial.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07318519

Run by

Medstar Health Research Institute

People needed

40

Starts

2025-07-01

Expected to finish

2027-05-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-06

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• age at least 18 years old
• cancer diagnosis, undergoing treatment
• chronic cancer pain (i.e., cancer pain at least 3 months duration) with baseline pain severity at least 4/10 (where 0=no pain, 10=worst pain)

You may not qualify if…

• intractable nausea/vomiting, motion sickness, seizures/epilepsy, and/or cranial structures/abnormalities preventing VR headset use
• moderate-severe pain of non-cancer etiology
• enrolled in another pain study
• unable to complete survey measures or interviews in English or Spanish

Where it is running

• MedStar Health Research Institute — Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States (enrolling)
• Duke University School of Medicine — Durham, North Carolina, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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