ReviewJournal of medical extended reality2025
The Role of Virtual Reality in Chronic Pain and Loneliness: Narrative Review.
Review in Journal of medical extended reality, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Chronic pain and loneliness are significant public health challenges that often intersect, leading to a cyclical cycle of physical, emotional, and social distress. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues, highlighting the need for innovative solutions. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for managing chronic pain and alleviating loneliness, but its potential to address the complex interplay between these conditions remains underexplored. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the effectiveness of VR interventions in managing chronic pain and loneliness, identify key themes and knowledge gaps, and provide recommendations for future research and clinical applications. A literature search was conducted, focusing on randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies published between January 2020 and December 2024 that investigated VR interventions for chronic pain and loneliness in adult populations. Studies were analyzed for recurring themes, trends, applications, and implications. VR interventions demonstrate the potential to reduce pain intensity, improve mood, and foster social connectedness through immersive, interactive experiences. Several key themes emerged, including the importance of multisensory stimulation, personalization, and social presence in enhancing VR's therapeutic effects. However, challenges related to accessibility, user experience, and long-term efficacy remain. VR offers a promising approach to managing chronic pain and loneliness, with the potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Future research should address identified barriers, develop culturally adaptive interventions, leverage artificial intelligence for personalization, and conduct longitudinal studies to assess long-term benefits and potential side effects. Integrating VR into collaborative health care teams and comprehensive treatment plans has the potential to maximize its impact and help with cost efficiencies. Advancing VR technology will require continued research to maximize its potential to enhance physical, emotional, and social well-being for those experiencing chronic pain and loneliness.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.