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VR-PAT and fNIRS to Identify CNS Biomarkers of Pain

Imaging Pain in a Virtual World: Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Assessing Brain Mechanisms Mediating Virtual Reality Pain Management in Children

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06303687
Enrollment
4
Registered
2024-03-12
Start date
2027-07-01
Completion date
2027-12-01
Last updated
2026-09-09

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

Conditions

Acute Pain, Burns, Pediatric ALL, Procedural Pain

Keywords

Virtual Reality, VR, fNIRS, Pain, Biomarker, Neuroimaging

Brief summary

This study aims to use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to identify and quantify pain biomarkers during burn dressing changes and pain relief induced by virtual reality (VR).

Detailed description

The objective of this study is to develop central nervous system (CNS) biomarkers of pain experience during inpatient pediatric (age 6-17 years) burn dressing changes and pain relief induced by virtual reality (VR). We plan to use innovative functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to identify and quantify the targeted CNS biomarkers. The ultimate goal of this project is to optimize the CNS biomarkers for predicting and/or monitoring response to VR-based pain reduction approaches for pain management in clinical trials. We will collaborate through a team science model to recruit n=4 pediatric burn injury subjects to address the following three specific aims: Aim 1: To quantify the central nervous system (CNS) responses associated with self-reported pain intensity during a standard clinical procedure (burn dressing changes). Aim 2: To assess brain response patterns to virtual reality (VR)-based interventions for pain management. Aim 3: To assess the degree to which objective brain measures and brain responses to VR intervention modulate objective brain markers of pain.

Interventions

OTHERVR-PAT

Virtual Reality Pain Alleviation Therapy (VR-PAT) played on a Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye device

Sponsors

Nationwide Children's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention (fNIRS and VR-PAT) or the control (fNIRS and standard of care) at the first research dressing change and will then crossover to the alternative group for the second laser procedure.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Being treated for acute burn injury 2. Age 6-17 years, inclusive 3. Admitted to NCH burn unit for treatment 4. Have a dressing that requires daily changes over 3 days 5. Patient and family caregivers can communicate (read and write) using English

Exclusion criteria

1. Any wounds that may interfere with study procedures 2. Vision, hearing, or cognitive/motor impairments preventing valid administration of study measures 3. History of motion sickness, seizure disorder, dizziness, or migraine headaches precipitated by visual auras 4. Minors in foster care, prisoners, or currently pregnant 5. Suspected child abuse 6. Unable to communicate in English

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in brain activityAssessed continuously throughout burn dressing changes (60 minutes) for the fNIRS study period (up to 5 days)Mean change of hemoglobin oxygen (HBO2) concentration between VR and Control as detected by fNIRS.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Procedural pain during burn dressing changesAssessed within 15 minutes immediately after the burn dressing change about pain experienced during the procedure0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) (self-reported and caregiver-reported), 0(min)-10(max), with higher score indicating worse pain. Asked for worst pain, average pain, and time spent thinking about pain. Collected in both VR and Control group.
Change in procedural anxietyAssessed at 3 time points (30 minutes prior to procedure, immediately prior to procedure, and within 15 minutes immediately following the procedure) for each dressing changeModified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) (observed by researcher), 23.33(min)-100(max), with higher scores denoting higher levels of anxiety.
Self-reported VR experienceWithin 15 minutes immediately following burn dressing change when in VR-PAT group0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) (self-reported - VR-PAT arm only), 0(min)-10(max), with higher score meaning better outcome. Asked for degree of realism, pleasure, and satisfaction with VR.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTHenry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, MBA
Henry.Xiang@NationwideChildrens.org614-355-5893
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHenry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, MBA

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 10, 2026