RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06787794

Reducing Itch With Hypnosis and Virtual Reality

The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-assisted Hypnosis in Reducing Itch: a Proof-of-concept Study

Sponsor

Universiteit Leiden

Enrollment

30 participants

Start Date

Jan 31, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Pruritus Itch

Summary

Chronic itch is a disabling condition with currently limited treatment options. Virtual reality (VR) is a relatively new approach that provides immersion in another environment and has been shown to have a temporary itch mitigating potential. Hypnosis, which is a state of relaxation, has been successfully applied with more long-term treatment effects in the specific case of itch as a result of severe atopic dermatitis. However, hypnosis tends to depend on an individual's susceptibility, or ease, to come into a hypnotic state. A combination of VR and hypnosis (VRH) has been put forward since it may combine the longer lasting effects of hypnosis with VR making the hypnosis more accessible by facilitating imagination. Even though VRH is a promising avenue, it has never been investigated in the context of itch. In this randomized controlled trial, comparing a VRH treatment with a waiting list control group after 6 sessions and at follow-up, it is aimed to assess the effectiveness of VRH in reducing itch along with its psychological burden in adult individuals with therapy-resistant disabling itch.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 80 Years

Inclusion Criteria5

Participants must be adults (aged 18-80 years)
Participants must have been suffering from chronic pruritus of any origin for at least 1 year prior to inclusion in this study
Participants must have been seen by a physician for the itch
Participants must experience psychological and/or functional impairment due to the itch despite standard medical treatment.
Participants must speak and understand Dutch and be able to complete questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria11

Severe psychiatric comorbidities irrelated to their itch condition such as psychosis or severe clinical depression or anxiety disorder (anxiety and depressive symptoms in itself are common in individuals with chronic symptoms and therefore no reason for exclusion);
History of seizures;
History of severe migraine;
Severe susceptibility to motion sickness;
Balance problems;
Face, head, or neck injury;
Visual or audiological impairment;
Pacemaker, defibrillator and/or other electronic (implantable) device of vital importance;
Pregnancy;
Lactation;
Participation in another interventional itch study.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALVirtual Reality-assisted hypnosis

The VRH intervention consists of 6 interventional sessions. Every session, first, participants receive hypnotic induction and go through a deepening phase using a hypnotic script and a VR environment designed based on input from individuals suffering from chronic itch. To this end, participants are instructed to close their eyes while they will continue to listen to the recorded hypnotic script developed based on general hypnotic principles as amongst others described by Yapko (2013). Direct antipruritic suggestions are used such as "your skin will feel so soft, relaxed and cool, it is fully at ease". After these standardized suggestions, the participants will be alerted again. Home exercises (ca 5 min/day) include guided self-hypnosis records with direct antipruritic suggestions comparable to the ones they listen to during the intervention at location.