Preventing chronic pain from getting worse using a virtual reality self-management program
Official title: Preventive Interventions for Chronic Pain Worsening
Run by Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet · NCT06351046 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether a home-based virtual reality pain self-management program can reduce pain for adults in Denmark who have had non-cancer chronic pain for three months or more.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 44 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Copenhagen, København Ø.) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 14, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06351046 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) with non-cancer chronic pain lasting at least three months, average pain ≥3/10, fluent in Danish, with internet access and not currently in specialized multidisciplinary pain treatment are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with epilepsy or seizure history, severe motion sensitivity or hypersensitivity to flashing light, eye/face/neck injuries that prevent VR use, active cancer, diagnosed major depression, cognitive dysfunction, pregnancy, lack of internet access, or current specialized pain treatment are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This open-label randomized controlled trial will enroll 44 Danish-speaking adults with non-cancer chronic pain (≥3 months) and average pain ≥3/10, randomizing them 1:1 to a virtual reality–based pain self-management (VRPS) program or usual care. The intervention delivers cognitive-behavioral–style pain regulation strategies through home VR sessions, with remote participation requiring internet access. Outcomes are patient-reported and include worst pain in the last 24 hours as the primary endpoint at two months post-intervention, with additional follow-ups at 6, 9, and 12 months. Secondary measures include pain interference, catastrophizing, acceptance, quality of life, mood, medication use, and healthcare utilization.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the VR program could reduce pain intensity and improve patients' ability to self-manage pain without adding medications.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller trials and pilot studies of VR for pain have shown short-term reductions in pain and improved engagement, but robust long-term evidence for chronic non-cancer pain remains limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * At least 18 years old * Fluent in the Danish language * Complaint of pain lasting 3 months or more; in average pain intensity score ≥ 3 (numerical rating scale 0 to 10) * Access to internet * Willing and available to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Specialized or multidisciplinary pain treatment at baseline * History of epilepsy * Seizure disorder * History of nausea or dizziness * Hypersensitivity to flashing light or motion or other diseases that may prevent use of virtual reality equipment. * Injury to eyes, face or neck that impedes comfortable use of virtual reality equipment. * Current cancer disease * Medical diagnosis of depression * Cognitive dysfunction that interferers with compliance to the study, * Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period * No access to the internet during the study period.
Where it's running
-
Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, København Ø., Denmark Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Geana Kurita, PhD — Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet
- Study coordinator: Geana Kurita, PhD
- Email: geana.kurita@regionh.dk
- Phone: 35454797
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Insomnia in people with chronic non-cancer pain
This study will see how common insomnia is and how it relates to chronic non-cancer pain in adults receiving care at pain clinics.
-
Oral switch for bloodstream infections in immunocompromised children
This trial tests whether switching from IV to oral antibiotics is just as safe as continuing IV therapy for children with bloodstream infections who are immunocompromised or have a central venous catheter.
-
Proton Therapy for Mediastinal Lymphoma in Denmark
This study tests whether using proton therapy for mediastinal lymphoma can lower late-toxicity risk compared with photon therapy in adults.
-
Oral switch for kids with bloodstream infections after starting IV therapy
This trial will test whether switching from IV to oral antibiotics early is not worse than continuing IV treatment for previously healthy children and teens with uncomplicated bloodstream infections.
-
Unilateral vs bilateral lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema
This trial tests whether operating on one lung or both lungs provides better breathing and quality of life for adults with severe emphysema due to COPD.
-
Scar remodeling after burn injury using stem cells from fat tissue
This trial tests whether injecting allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells into burn scars can improve scar quality for adults with hypertrophic scars.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.