Validation of Painreportit Neuropathic Pain Scale in African American Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 3525-3525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keesha Roach ◽  
Robert E Molokie ◽  
Zaijie Jim Wang ◽  
Mariam O Ezenwa ◽  
David Shuey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Pain in sickle cell disease (SCD) has been thought to be episodic, but more recent evidence has shown that individuals in this population also suffer from chronic pain likely resulting from central or peripheral neural damage (neuropathic pain). There is accumulating evidence from human and animal studies indicating potential neuropathic pain in SCD. A number of valid and reliable measures of neuropathic pain have been used to differentiate neuropathic from non-neuropathic types of pain. PAINReportIt, which takes about 10 to 18 minutes to complete, is a computer based self-report pain assessment tool based on the 1970 version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. From PAINReportIt, a new subscale has been proposed as a measure of neuropathic pain that sums the number of neuropathic pain quality words selected. The PAINReportIt number of neuropathic pain (PR-NNP) scale, however, lacks validation in patients with SCD. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the construct validity for the PR-NNP by examining the associations between the PR-NNP and other valid and reliable measures of neuropathic pain (self-administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs [S-LANSS] and the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory [NPSI]) among adults with SCD. We hypothesized that the PR-NNP scores would be significantly correlated with S-LANSS and NPSI scores. Methods: This prospective instrument validation study was conducted in an ambulatory research setting with 79 adults diagnosed with SCD who had chronic pain within the prior 12 months (>3 on a 0-10 pain scale). The sample mean age was 36.0 ± 11.5 [ranged from 19-74 years], 63% were female, and 97% reported they were African American. The participants were asked to complete self-reported pain measures (PR-NNP, S-LANSS, NPSI, and PR-NNoc [number of nociceptive pain words]). Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses were used. Results: Mean scores for average pain intensity, PR-NNP, NSPI, S-LANSS, and PR-NNoc appear in Table 1. Bivariate results indicated moderate correlation between the two validated measures of neuropathic pain (NPSI and S-LANSS; r= .57, p=.000). The NPSI was moderately correlated with PR-NNP (r= .43, p=.000), and weakly correlated with PR-NNoc (r=.35, p=.002). For S-LANSS, there was a moderate correlation with PR-NNP (r=0.41, p=.000) and a weak correlation with PR-NNoc (r=.30, p=.007). There was a weak correlation between average pain intensity and NPSI and S-LANSS, r=.37, p=.001 and r=.36, p=.001, respectively. Regression analysis including average pain intensity, PR-NNP, and PR-NNoc as predictors showed that controlling for PR-NNP and average pain, PR-NNoc was not significantly associated with either NPSI (p=.930) or S-LANSS (p=.731), while each point of increase in PR-NNP was associated with an increase of 1.9 (p=.004) in NPSI and of 0.8 (p=.003) in S-LANSS. The same analysis showed that a one point increase in the average pain intensity was associated with an increase of 2.7 (p=.001) in NPSI and of 1.0 (p=.001) in S-LANSS. Conclusions: Both average pain intensity and PR-NNP but not PR-NNoc have unique explanatory properties of both indicators of neuropathic pain (NPSI and S-LANSS). These findings support the construct validity of the PR-NNP as a potential screening tool for neuropathic pain in patients with SCD. Validation of PR-NNP is important for future neuropathic pain research in the sickle cell population, particularly in cases of multi-site trials, and in cases where the practitioner can detect the potential presence of neuropathic pain without use of expensive equipment. These findings are important because pain management in the sickle cell population often includes opioids, but easy and early detection of neuropathic pain could result in an opioid sparing pain management approach in this population. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 205510292091725
Author(s):  
Nadine Matthie ◽  
Coretta Jenerette ◽  
Ashley Gibson ◽  
Sudeshna Paul ◽  
Melinda Higgins ◽  
...  

Among 170 adults with sickle cell disease, we evaluated chronic pain impact and disability prevalence, assessed age and gender differences, and identified psychosocial predictors of chronic pain intensity and disability. Most participants had a high level of disability. Chronic pain intensity and disability were significantly associated with pain catastrophizing and chronic pain self-efficacy, and worsened with age. Further research is needed to confirm study findings and develop interventions, including palliative care approaches that address catastrophizing and disability, particularly for young women and middle-aged adults with sickle cell disease. Moreover, consistent clinical assessment of chronic pain and psychosocial health should be implemented.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Freynhagen ◽  
Charles Argoff ◽  
Mariëlle Eerdekens ◽  
Sylvia Engelen ◽  
Serge Perrot

Abstract Objective To investigate efficacy of repeated application of capsaicin 179 mg cutaneous patch in non-responders to the first application. Design Post hoc, as-treated analysis of two prospective trials (STRIDE and PACE) with 52-week follow-up. Blinding Open-label. Setting Multicenter clinical trial. Subjects STRIDE: non-diabetic neuropathic pain; PACE: painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods Patients were divided according to number of applications needed before ≥30% response on average pain intensity (question 5 of the Brief Pain Inventory [BPI-Q5]). We assessed change from baseline in average pain intensity (BPI-Q5), mean ‘interference with sleep’ score, Patient Global Impression of Change, quality of life (QOL) using EuroQol 5-dimension, and Self-Assessment of Treatment. Results In STRIDE and PACE, respectively, n = 306/313 received capsaicin patch; n = 60/96 had a response after the first application, n = 33/68 after the second, n = 11/43 after the third. Among patients without a ≥ 30% reduction in pain intensity at 3 months, 23.3%/28.1% achieved a ≥ 30% reduction at 6 months, increasing to 33.9%/45.7% at 12 months. Similar results were obtained using a decrease of ≥ 50% as responder definition. Progressive improvements in pain intensity in slower responders reached similar levels as those in early responders at month 12 and were accompanied by improvements in sleep, QOL, and patient satisfaction. Conclusions While some patients with peripheral neuropathic pain experience rapid improvements with a single treatment of capsaicin 179 mg patch, some may require two or three treatments before an initial response is observed. Similar benefits on pain, sleep, and QOL can be achieved in early and late responders.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096452842110173
Author(s):  
Hongjin Li ◽  
Crystal L Patil ◽  
Robert E Molokie ◽  
Franklin Njoku ◽  
Alana D Steffen ◽  
...  

Objective: Chronic pain is a common symptom experienced among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our aims were to assess the feasibility and acceptability of performing acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain in adults with SCD. Methods: This was a single-arm, prospective pilot study of six adults with SCD. Participants reported ⩾ 3 months of chronic pain and were > 18 years of age. Per protocol, acupuncture was to be administered twice per week for 5 weeks, for 30 min per session. All treatments were performed in the acupuncture treatment laboratory at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. Pain intensity, pain interference, and other symptoms were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Participants completed a semi-structured interview and a protocol acceptability questionnaire after the acupuncture intervention. Results: Six participants (mean age 52.5 years, six Black) were enrolled. Although the study was suspended due to COVID-19 and not all participants completed the 10-session protocol, completion rates were high with no missed appointments. One participant did not complete the study due to hospitalization unrelated to acupuncture. No adverse events were reported. At completion of the intervention at 4–5 weeks post-baseline, all participants had reduced pain intensity and pain interference. The mean acceptability score on the protocol acceptability questionnaire was 82%. Conclusion: It was feasible and acceptable to implement acupuncture in adults with SCD. This study can be used to guide a larger randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on reducing chronic pain in adults with SCD. Trial registration number: NCT04156399 (ClinicalTrials.gov)


Author(s):  
Myroslav Bozhenko ◽  
◽  
Tetyana Nehrych ◽  
Nataliya Bozhenko ◽  
◽  
...  

Introduction: Pain syndromes, anxiety, and depression are common syndromes in multiple sclerosis (MS). Comorbidity of pain and depression or pain and anxiety exists in up to one-third of MS patients. Based on the biopsychosocial model of pain, given the high prevalence of these symptoms and their frequent combination in MS, which is significantly higher than in the general population, we can hypothesize the relationship between the characteristics of pain and anxiety and depression in patients with MS. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among MS patients with pain syndromes and analyze the relationship between anxiety and depression with pain syndromes' characteristics in patients with MS. Methods: Data were collected prospectively at Lviv Regional Multiple Sclerosis Center. 120 randomly selected patients with a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis were examined. 104 of them had pain syndromes during the last month. Complaints and medical history, analysis of medical records, neurological and general medical examination of the patients were collected. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were assessed in all patients using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. In patients with pain syndromes, the Visual analogue scale (VAS), Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire 2 (SF-MPQ-2), Pain Detect were used to assess pain characteristics. Results: The levels of anxiety and depression were higher in the group of MS patients with pain. The level of anxiety was 9.0 [6,0; 12,75] in the group with pain and 7.0 [4,0; 9,25] in the group without pain (p=0.04). The level of depression was 7.0 [4,0; 10,0] in the group with pain and 4.0 [1,75; 6,0] in the group without pain (p<0,01). It was found that part of MS patients with pain syndromes with anxiety was 36.5%, and 29.8% had a subclinical level of anxiety; part of MS patients with pain syndromes with depression was 19.23%. The proportion of patients with anxiety was highest in patients with neuropathic pain: 56.3% ± 8.8% vs. 22.4% ± 6.0% with nociceptive, p<0.01. A similar situation is observed in patients with depression. The share of patients with depression was higher in the group with neuropathic pain 37.5% ± 8.6%, compared to 14.3% ± 5.0% with nociceptive, p=0.02. The proportion of patients with MS without signs of anxiety and depression is significantly higher among patients with nociceptive pain (p<0,05). Also, the correlational relationship between the level of anxiety and depression with the level of the neuropathic type of pain manifestation was found (r=0,40; p<0,01 and r=0,30; p<0,01). Levels of anxiety and depression correlated with the average pain intensity per month (r = 0,21; p=0,03) and did not have a statistically significant relationship with pain intensity at the time of examination and the strongest pain for the last month. The anxiety and depression had correlations with all components of the structure of pain syndromes (according to sfMPQ-2), but the most pronounced direct correlation was found between anxiety and the affective component of pain (r=0,57; p<0,01). It was also found that the level of anxiety was proved to be higher in patients who have 2-3 pain syndromes, than in patients with one pain syndrome: 12.0 [8,0; 14,0] points against 8.0 [5,0; 11,0] points, p<0.01. Besides, this localization of pain in the arms, shoulders and back was related to higher levels of anxiety (r=0.22; p=0.03). Conclusion: Pain syndromes, anxiety, and depression are widespread among patients with MS and there is a relationship between them. MS patients with pain have higher levels of anxiety and depression than MS patients without pain. It is also noteworthy that among MS patients with pain syndromes, high levels of anxiety are detected. Anxiety and depression also have a pronounced relationship with a neuropathic component of pain in patients with MS. Besides this, the presence of more than one pain syndrome, high average pain intensity per month is associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. The localization of pain in the arms, shoulders and back is related to higher anxiety levels. These discoveries, combined with modern neuroimaging technologies used in the next step of our study, will provide a better understanding of both pain and its structure, as well as anxiety and depression


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 486
Author(s):  
Byeong-Cheol Lee ◽  
Dae-Seok Oh ◽  
Hyun-Seong Lee ◽  
Se-Hun Kim ◽  
Jae-Hong Park ◽  
...  

Introduction: Leriche syndrome is an aortoiliac occlusive disease caused by atherosclerotic occlusion. We report a case of Leriche syndrome with a fracture that was suspected as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), as the post-traumatic pain gradually worsened in the form of excruciating neuropathic pain. Case Report: A 52-year-old woman with a history of hypertension was referred to the Department of Pain Medicine from a local orthopedic clinic because of suspected CRPS for excruciating neuropathic pain for one month. She complained of gait dysfunction and severe pain in the right foot following an incident of trauma with the right first toe. The average pain intensity assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) was 90 (0: no pain, 100: the worst pain imaginable), and the neuropathic pain was evident as a score of 6/10 on Douleur neuropathique 4. Allodynia, hyperalgesia, blue discoloration of the skin, asymmetric temperature change (1.38 °C), and edematous soft tissue changes were observed. Ultrasonography showed a chip fracture in the first distal phalanx of the right first toe. The diagnosis was most probably CRPS type I according to the Budapest research criteria for CRPS. However, multiple pain management techniques were insufficient in controlling the symptoms. A month and a half later, an ankle-brachial index score of less than 0.4 suggested severe peripheral artery disease. Computed tomography angiography showed total occlusion between the infrarenal abdominal aorta and the bilateral common iliac arteries. Therefore, she underwent aortic-bifemoral bypass surgery with a diagnosis of Leriche syndrome. Three months after the surgery, the average pain intensity was graded as 10 on the VAS (0–100), the color of the skin of the right first toe improved and no gait dysfunction was observed. Conclusion: A chip fracture in a region with insufficient blood flow could manifest as excruciating neuropathic pain in Leriche syndrome.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth D Darnall ◽  
Parthasarathy Krishnamurthy ◽  
Jeannette Tsuei ◽  
Jorge D Minor

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic pain often have limited access to comprehensive care that includes behavioral pain management strategies. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology and emerging digital behavioral pain therapy with analgesic efficacy for acute pain. We found no scientific literature on skills-based VR behavioral programs for chronic pain populations. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a self-administered VR program that included content and skills informed by evidence-based behavioral treatment for chronic pain. The secondary aim is to determine the preliminary efficacy of the VR program in terms of average pain intensity and pain-related interference with activity, stress, mood, and sleep, and its impact on pain-related cognition and self-efficacy. The tertiary aim was to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and compare the VR treatment with an audio-only treatment. This comparison isolated the immersive effects of the VR program, thereby informing potential mechanisms of effect. METHODS We conducted an RCT involving a web-based convenience sample of adults (N=97) aged 18-75 years with self-reported chronic nonmalignant low back pain or fibromyalgia, with an average pain intensity &gt;4 over the past month and chronic pain duration &gt;6 months. Enrolled participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 unblinded treatments: (1) VR: a 21-day, skills-based VR program for chronic pain; and (2) audio: an audio-only version of the 21-day VR program. The analytic data set included participants who completed at least 1 of 8 surveys administered during the intervention period: VR (n=39) and audio (n=35). RESULTS The VR and audio groups launched a total of 1067 and 1048 sessions, respectively. The majority of VR participants (n=19/25, 76%) reported no nausea or motion sickness. High satisfaction ratings were reported for VR (n=24/29, 83%) and audio (n=26/33, 72%). For VR efficacy, symptom improvement over time was found for each pain variable (all <i>P</i>&lt;.001), with results strengthening after 2 weeks. Importantly, significant time×group effects were found in favor of the VR group for average pain intensity (<i>P</i>=.04), pain-related inference with activity (<i>P</i>=.005), sleep (<i>P</i>&lt;.001), mood (<i>P</i>&lt;.001), and stress (<i>P</i>=.003). For pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy, we found a significant declining trend for both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS High engagement and satisfaction combined with low levels of adverse effects support the feasibility and acceptability of at-home skills-based VR for chronic pain. A significant reduction in pain outcomes over the course of the 21-day treatment both within the VR group and compared with an audio-only version suggests that VR has the potential to provide enhanced treatment and greater improvement across a range of pain outcomes. These findings provide a foundation for future research on VR behavioral interventions for chronic pain.


2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 605-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn M Ehde ◽  
Laura E Gibbons ◽  
Lydia Chwastiak ◽  
Charles H Bombardier ◽  
Mark D Sullivan ◽  
...  

Introduction: This study examined the prevalence, intensity, interference, and biopsychosocial correlates of pain in a large community-based sample of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Mail surveys were returned by 442 members of the King C ounty (WA) MS Association. Average pain intensity, pain-related activity interference, depressive symptoms and severity of MS were assessed. Results: Forty-four percent reported persistent, bothersome pain in the three months prior to completing the survey. Participants with pain reported an average pain intensity rating of 5.2 (SD =2.3) on the 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain as bad as could be) scale. Twenty-seven percent reported severe pain (score of 7-10), while 51% of those with pain rated the interference of their pain with daily activities as none to minimal. Twenty percent reported severe interference in activities as a result of pain. In multivariate modeling, MS illness severity, marital status, and self-ratings of overall health were significantly associated with pain-related interference with activities. Conclusions: A pproximately a fourth of this sample described having a chronic pain problem characterized by severe pain intensity and significant pain-related interference with activities. Disability due to pain may be more important than previously recognized for the MS population.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3510-3510
Author(s):  
Donna k McClish ◽  
Wally R. Smith ◽  
Joshua J. Field ◽  
Samir K. Ballas ◽  
Claudia M Campbell ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: For research purposes, painful crises in sickle cell disease (SCD) have either been self-defined by patients, or adjudicated by research experts, most often based on whether urgent care or hospital care was sought for pain related to SCD. The Pain in Sickle Cell Epidemiology Study (PiSCES) determined that three-fourths of self-defined crises days were not managed in urgent or hospital care. The Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks (AAPT) published a taxonomy of chronic SCD pain, defined as pain on most days of 6 months duration, along with at least one clinical sign, and no better explanation for the pain. We served on a similar SCD consensus panel to propose a more expansive taxonomy of acute sickle cell pain or painful episodes, informed by the PiSCES dataset (manuscript under review). Here we present three PiSCES-derived definitions of acute painful episodes, and we analyze the impact of various definitions on pain outcome results potentially useful for research. Methods: PiSCES Patients (N=81) who completed at least 5 out of the expected 6 months of daily diaries and did not have gaps in their daily diary of 4 days or more were included. Patients self-reported their worst sickle cell pain intensity on a scale from 0 (none) to 9 (unbearable), and independently self-reported whether they were having a crisis that day, whether they went for an unscheduled physician visit, an Emergency Department visit, or whether they were hospitalized for sickle cell pain. Definitions of acute pain episodes compared here include self-reported crisis days, days with pain ≥ 5, and days with utilization of the ED or overnight hospitalization (other potential definitions not shown). To meet any definition, a crisis day (pain≥ 5, utilization) had to be reported for 2 or more consecutive days. Non-crisis intervals were 2 or more consecutive days without a self-reported crisis (pain ≥ 5, utilization). The average length of non-crisis intervals was considered to represent the time between crisis episodes. For <4 consecutive missing days, imputations were performed using non-missing data to calculate the probability that missing days were crisis days. We used PiSCES data to compare various pain outcomes (see Table) for patients with and without AAAPT-defined chronic pain, for the three definitions of an acute painful episode. We note that episode length, intensity, time between episodes and intensity of non-episodes were all estimated using only patients who had an acute painful episode. Results: (Table) For each definition of an acute painful episode, a larger percentage of patients with chronic pain had acute episodes than patients without chronic pain. Similarly, chronic pain patients had statistically significantly more episodes and higher mean pain intensity on non-episode days. For 2 of 3 definitions (but not ED or hospitalization use), chronic pain patients had longer episodes and shorter time between episodes. Only for the self-reported crisis definition, patients had higher mean pain intensity during episodes. Raising the pain intensity threshold from 5 to 6 to define an acute episode slightly decreased the absolute percentage with acute episodes, the number of episodes, and the length of episodes, but did not affect the relationships between outcomes for patients with and without chronic pain (results not shown in table). Conclusions: A comparison of various definitions of acute painful episodes using the PiSCES dataset yields slightly different pain outcome results. However, these differences are intuitive. For example, chronic pain patients still have more intense and more frequent acute painful episodes regardless of the definition used. The finding of more frequent acute pain in SCD adults with chronic pain has important implications for treatment and the design of SCD clinical trials. Table. Table. Disclosures Field: Ironwood: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prolong: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Dampier:Pfizer: Research Funding.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ouédraogo Dieu-Donné ◽  
Ouédraogo Théodore ◽  
Zabsonré/Tiendrébéogo Joëlle ◽  
Dionou Pierre ◽  
Ouédraogo Smaïla ◽  
...  

Objective: To compare the efficacy on pain and joint function of NSAIDs versus steroid intra-articular infiltration in congestive knee osteoarthritis. Patients and Methods: Open randomized study comparing a series of patients treated with NSAIDs for 21 days and another who received steroid intra-articular infiltration (SIAI) spaced at every 7 days. The visual analog scale was used for the weekly assessment of spontaneous pain and pain when walking. Lequesne functional pain scale was used to assess the functional impact of knee osteoarthritis. Results: Seventy patients were enrolled, including 35 in the NSAID arm and 35 in SIAI arm. Forty-nine (70%) had stage III of Kellgren and Lawrance scale. On admission, the average pain intensity was 50.46 ± 30.93 in the NSAID arm and 60.92 ± 30 in SIAI arm (p = 0.0189). At the end of follow-up, pain intensity was 6.72 ± 13 in NSAIDs patients and 17.80 ± 21 in SIAI one (p = 0.001). The average intensity of pain on walking was 64.41 ± 22.61. It was 53.33 ± 22.31 in NSAID’s against 74.85 ± 17.55 in SIAI patients (P <0.0001). At the end of the treatment, they were respectively 19.11 ± 11.37, and 35 ± 30.69 (P = 0.0085). Conclusion: Corticosteroid injections have a short efficacy compared to NSAIDs. Prescribing NSAIDs should consider the cons-indications, comorbidities and their deleterious digestive, renal, and cardiovascular effect.


10.2196/17293 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. e17293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth D Darnall ◽  
Parthasarathy Krishnamurthy ◽  
Jeannette Tsuei ◽  
Jorge D Minor

Background Patients with chronic pain often have limited access to comprehensive care that includes behavioral pain management strategies. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology and emerging digital behavioral pain therapy with analgesic efficacy for acute pain. We found no scientific literature on skills-based VR behavioral programs for chronic pain populations. Objective The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a self-administered VR program that included content and skills informed by evidence-based behavioral treatment for chronic pain. The secondary aim is to determine the preliminary efficacy of the VR program in terms of average pain intensity and pain-related interference with activity, stress, mood, and sleep, and its impact on pain-related cognition and self-efficacy. The tertiary aim was to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and compare the VR treatment with an audio-only treatment. This comparison isolated the immersive effects of the VR program, thereby informing potential mechanisms of effect. Methods We conducted an RCT involving a web-based convenience sample of adults (N=97) aged 18-75 years with self-reported chronic nonmalignant low back pain or fibromyalgia, with an average pain intensity >4 over the past month and chronic pain duration >6 months. Enrolled participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 unblinded treatments: (1) VR: a 21-day, skills-based VR program for chronic pain; and (2) audio: an audio-only version of the 21-day VR program. The analytic data set included participants who completed at least 1 of 8 surveys administered during the intervention period: VR (n=39) and audio (n=35). Results The VR and audio groups launched a total of 1067 and 1048 sessions, respectively. The majority of VR participants (n=19/25, 76%) reported no nausea or motion sickness. High satisfaction ratings were reported for VR (n=24/29, 83%) and audio (n=26/33, 72%). For VR efficacy, symptom improvement over time was found for each pain variable (all P<.001), with results strengthening after 2 weeks. Importantly, significant time×group effects were found in favor of the VR group for average pain intensity (P=.04), pain-related inference with activity (P=.005), sleep (P<.001), mood (P<.001), and stress (P=.003). For pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy, we found a significant declining trend for both treatment groups. Conclusions High engagement and satisfaction combined with low levels of adverse effects support the feasibility and acceptability of at-home skills-based VR for chronic pain. A significant reduction in pain outcomes over the course of the 21-day treatment both within the VR group and compared with an audio-only version suggests that VR has the potential to provide enhanced treatment and greater improvement across a range of pain outcomes. These findings provide a foundation for future research on VR behavioral interventions for chronic pain.


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