VR Gaming More than Just Fun - Help Reduce Pain
Psychological factors can influence the perception of pain (Melzack, 1998). For example, pain can be exacerbated by anxiety and expectations (Turk, Meichenbaum, & Genest, 1983). In contrast, pain may be reduced by interventions that address psychological factors: e.g., traditional distraction can be an effective adjunctive treatment for pain (Fernandez & Turk, 1989; McCaul & Mallott, 1984). To help reach their goal of maximizing the potential for distraction to reduce pain, researchers have begun recently to explore whether allowing patients to escape mentally into an immersive virtual world can help reduce their pain experience (Hoffman, Doctor, Patterson, Carrougher, & Furness, 2000; Hoffman, Patterson, & Carrougher, 2000).
Hunter Hoffman, PhD, and David Patterson, PhD ABPP ABPH. Virtual Reality Pain Distraction. APS Bulletin • Volume 15, Number 2, Spring 2005
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