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Neurophysiological Correlates of Dissociation Induced by Virtual Reality Hypnosis (VRH) in a Clinical Population

Neurophysiological Correlates of Dissociation Induced by Virtual Reality Hypnosis (VRH) in an Oncological Population

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05362708
Enrollment
40
Registered
2022-05-05
Start date
2022-05-01
Completion date
2023-10-01
Last updated
2022-05-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cancer

Keywords

Virtual Reality, Hypnosis, Dissociation

Brief summary

Hypnosis and virtual reality are potential tools for treating acute. Nevertheless, the neurophysiological correlates of such tools used together, i.e. 'virtual reality hypnosis' (VRH) (Patterson et al., 2004) remain mostly understudied. This study aims to improve our knowledge and understanding of the dissociation (i.e., a mental separation of components of behaviours that normally would be processed together) occurring during VRH. This is a clinical trial aiming at understanding if the VRH reduces pain during a port-a-cath intervention in oncological patients and if dissociation may explain the pain alteration.

Detailed description

The study will be focused on oncological patients undergoing a port-a-cath placement procedure. Day-1 and Day-2 with a one-day follow-up Day-3: I. Day-1: Oncological Population (Feasibility) 1\. Recruitment and questionnaires on the day of the port-a-cath preparation consultation (DAY-1): i. A medical screening will be performed to assess eligibility, ii. Elkins Hypnotizability Scale. iii. State Trait Anxiety Inventory-trait (anxiety trait) iv. Dissociative Experience Scale. v. Tellegen Absorption Scale. vi. Questionnaire of Immersion Propensity. II. Day-2: 1. Intervention day: i. Visual Analogy Scale: * Anxiety. * Pain. ii. 4-Electrodes EEG device from Oncomfort during port-a-cath (Port) placement procedure under Virtual Reality Hypnosis (VRH), combined standard monitoring (spO2, heart rate, etc.) iii. Adverse events will be recorded throughout the experiment iv. Visual Analogy Scale: * Dissociation. * Pain. * Anxiety * Absorption. * Arousal/wakefulness. * Automaticity v. Time Perception (open-ended question) vi. Presence questionnaire. vii. Satisfaction questionnaire. 2. Follow-up (DAY-3): i. A follow-up questionnaire using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) French version will be sent to the patient one week after the intervention to measure outcomes.

Interventions

DEVICEClinical - Hypnosis with VR (VRH)

The VRH intervention will use the Aqua video session developed by Oncomfort during a port-a-cath procedure.

Sponsors

Oncomfort
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Biowin
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
University of Liege
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Masking description

Methodology of virtual reality hypnosis prevents masking participants and experimenter.

Intervention model description

Patients who are not interested will be considered as a control group.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Subject more than 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

1. Low auditory and/or visual acuity precludes the use of the device. 2. Head or face wounds precluding the use of the device. 3. Schizophrenia, dissociative disorder or any other psychiatric disorder. 4. Non-proficiency in French (Research language). 5. Patient under 18 years old. 6. Phobia of deep water. 7. Allergy to cutaneous electrodes. 8. Chronic pain and/or chronic analgesics consumption. 9. Medication affecting the autonomic nervous system. 10. Dizziness.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Dissociation stateDuring the procedureCorresponds to a dissociation between the bodily sensations and the actual environment that one feels in a particular situation. will be assessed with a numerical rating scale (0= no dissociation; 10 = dissociation from environment).
Pain intensityDuring the procedureThe amount of pain one experiences in a particular situation. Will be assessed with a visual analogy scale, 0= no pain at all; 10= worst pain imaginable.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CybersicknessDuring the procedureAssesses the sickness one might experience after the VRH. Will be assessed with the Cybersickness questionnaire. The higher the score, the more one has experience sickness during the VRH.
HypnotisabilityDuring the procedureThe susceptibility one has concerning hypnosis. Will be assessed with the Elkins Hypnotizability Scale. A score : 0-3 : low hypnotizability 4-7: medium hypnotizability 8-11 : high hypnotizability 12 : very high hypnotizability
Absorption traitDuring the procedureThe tendency to become fully involved in a perceptual, imaginative or ideational experience. Will be assessed with the Tellegen Absorption Scale, the higher the score the higher the absorption in the daily life.
Anxiety traitDuring the procedureLevel of anxiety one experiences in one's daily life. Will be assessed with the State Trait Anxiety Invetory (STAI)-6 questionnaire. The higher the score, the higher the anxiety one feels in one's daily life.
Immersion propensity (trait)During the procedureImmersion propensity is the amount of sensory input the virtual reality system creates. Will be assessed with the Immersion Propensity questionnaire. The higher the score, the more one is immersed in the virtual environments.
Anxiety stateDuring the procedureThe amount of anxiety one experiences in a particular situation. Will be assessed with a visual analogy scale. a score = 0 means no anxiety at all, while a score = 10 means most anxiety ever felt.
Dissociation traitDuring the procedureThe amount of dissociation one experiences in one's daily life. Will be assessed with the Dissociative Experience Scale, the higher the score, the more one experiences dissociation in one's daily life.
AutomaticityDuring the procedureA non-voluntary response related to the content of a communication that is intended to be a suggestion. Will be assessed with a numerical rating scale : 0= perfect control; 10 = passive witness.
Arousal/wakefulnessDuring the procedureThe amount of arousal one experiences in a particular situation. Will be assessed with a visual analogy scale, 0=not aroused, awaken; 10 = completely aroused, awake.
PresenceDuring the procedureRefers to the degree to which the subject experiences being in the virtual environment. Will be assessed with the presence questionnaire, the higher the score the higher one has the feeling of really being in the virtual environment.
Satisfaction of the participantDuring the procedureAssesses the overall satisfaction one has had with the VRH and HYP session. Will be assessed by a self-made satisfaction questionnaire, the higher the score, the more one is satisfied with the experience.
Brief Pain InventoryOne week after the procedureThe BPI measures the intensity of pain and interference of pain in the patient's life. The higher the scores the higher the intensity and interference.
Absorption stateDuring the procedureThe amount of absorption one experiences in a particular situation. Will be assessed with a numerical rating scale, 0 = no absorption; 10 = fully absorption by the experience.
Time perceptionDuring the procedureOpen-ended question about one's impression of the duration of the VHR and HYP sessions.

Contacts

Primary ContactAminata Bicego, PhD
abicego@uliege.be+3243663499
Backup ContactRodrigo Montenegro, PhD Student
rmontenegro@uliege.be+3243662983

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026