The use of Virtual Reality (VR) pain psychology therapy to relieve chronic pain associated with cancer.

Patients in the intervention arm will receive 3x 30min sessions of VR-pain psychology therapy, as timed by a researcher. Each session will allow one module of the VR-pain therapy to be provided. Timepoints for follow-up is at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after recruitment. Each VR session will occur in separate clinical rooms located within the Cancer Centre Wellness unit at Liverpool Hospital to provide privacy for the patient, and to avoid disturbance to other patients concurrently onsite for their outpatient visits. The VR session will occur after the patient has seen their oncologist. Our VR software program will incorporate three pain psychological modules: (1) Patient education on the nature and type of pain, and methods to control pain; (2) Teaching progressive muscle relaxation as a form of arousal reduction therapy; and (3) Guided pain visualisation technique to reduce pain catastrophising, reduce maladaptive response to pain, and improve functional outcomes These modules are selected by patients using their hand-motion controllers. Patients can advance, stop, or rewind the therapy. An electronic representation of a therapist (“avatar”) is projected through the VR goggles that will speak with the patient. Patients are required to be active participants, interacting with the avatar by choosing their therapy options in real time. The interaction between patient and VR-pain control therapy does not require external intervention from a psychologist. However, the view experienced by the patient is projected onto an external TV. This will be monitored by a researcher, who can intervene if necessary.