Virtual Reality-Based Hypnotherapy to Help Pain, Sleep, and Mood in Spinal Cord Injury

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, randomized, parallel-group, single-center study enrolling 40 adults with spinal cord injury. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either conventional physiotherapy alone or physiotherapy plus approximately 20 minutes of VR-based hypnotherapy after each session over two weeks. Both groups complete assessments at baseline and after the 2-week period to measure pain intensity, neuropathic pain, sleep quality, mood, spasticity, and quality of life. The trial aims to determine whether the VR hypnotherapy adds benefit beyond standard rehabilitation. Safety and tolerability of the VR intervention are also monitored in this non-pharmacologic, non-invasive approach.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age between 18 and 65 years
* Diagnosis of spinal cord injury
* Injury duration longer than 3 months
* Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score above 24
* Willingness to participate and provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Injury duration shorter than 3 months
* Significant change in analgesic treatment within the last 3 months
* Visual or hearing impairment
* Epilepsy
* Severe psychiatric illness (psychosis, severe major depression, or bipolar disorder in the acute phase)
* Pregnancy

Where it's running

• Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and research Hospital
  Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Selim Sezikli, MD — Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
• Study coordinator: Selim Sezikli, MD
• Email: selimsezikli@hotmail.com
• Phone: +90 506 510 18 33

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.