Integrating Virtual Reality With Activity Management for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Objectives: Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) for fibromyalgia (FMS) are important interventions in the management of this condition. Empirical evidence reports that although the results are promising, further research is needed to respond more appropriately to these patients.This study focuses on exploring the use of Virtual Reality (VR) as an adjunct to the activity management component. The aim of this study is to present the results of a small-sized randomized controlled trial to test the preliminary efficacy and acceptability of this component. Methods:The final sample was composed of 61 women diagnosed with FMS according to the American College of Rheumatology. The sample was randomly allocated to two conditions: VR treatment and treatment as usual.Results: Participants in the VR condition achieved significant improvements in the primary outcome: disability measured with the FIQ. The improvement was also significant in secondary outcomes, such as perceived quality of life and some of the coping strategies included in the CPCI: Task persistence, and Exercise. There were no differences in other secondary outcome measures like pain intensity and interference and depression. Participants reported high satisfaction with the VR component. Discussion:The effects were related to the psychological aspects targeted in the treatment. The component was well-accepted by FMS patients referred from a public hospital. These findings show that the VR component could be useful in the CBT treatment of FMS and encourage us to continue exploring the use of integrating VR with CBT interventions for the treatment of FMS.

Efficacy, acceptability and safety of cognitive behavioural therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome – A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…The median percentage of women in CBTs groups was 100% (89-100%). Fifteen studies included only women (Burckhardt et al, 1994;King et al, 2002;Soares and Grossi, 2002;Thieme et al, 2003;Redondo et al, 2004;Kashikar-Zuck et al, 2005;Thieme et al, 2006;Falcao et al, 2008;Ang et al, 2010;Miro et al, 2011;Parra-Delgado and Latorre-Postigo, 2013;Wicksell et al, 2013;Martınez et al, 2014;Garcia-Palacios et al, 2015;Karlsson et al, 2015). The median of the mean age was 47.4 (15.2-55.4) years.…”

“…One of these studies was included in the first version of the review (Williams et al, 2010). We included seven new studies (Williams et al, 2002;Parra-Delgado and Latorre-Postigo, 2013;Wicksell et al, 2013;Luciano et al, 2014;Martınez et al, 2014;Garcia-Palacios et al, 2015;Karlsson et al, 2015).One study (Williams et al, 2002) was not included in the first version of this review. These studies added 546 new participants.…”

“…Twenty-three studies provided traditional CBT (Burckhardt et al, 1994;Vlaeyen et al, 1996;Wigers et al, 1996;Nicassio et al, 1997;King et al, 2002;Soares and Grossi, 2002;Williams et al, 2002;Redondo et al, 2004;Edinger et al, 2005;Kashikar-Zuck et al, 2005;Thieme et al, 2006;Falcao et al, 2008;Castel et al, 2009Castel et al, , 2012Ang et al, 2010;Alda et al, 2011;Luciano et al, 2011;Miro et al, 2011;Kashikar-Zuck et al, 2012;Woolfolk et al, 2012;Martınez et al, 2014;Garcia-Palacios et al, 2015;Karlsson et al, 2015), three studies offered acceptance/mindfulness-based therapy (Parra-Delgado and Latorre-Postigo, 2013; Wicksell et al, 2013;Luciano et al, 2014) and two studies each provided self management education (Oliver et al, 2001;Rooks et al, 2007) and operant therapy (Thieme et al, 2003(Thieme et al, , 2006. All studies were conducted by live face-toface contact except one study which was delivered by telephone (voice-to-voice) (Ang et al, 2010).…”

“…Eighteen studies were conducted in Europe (Burckhardt et al, 1994;Vlaeyen et al, 1996;Wigers et al, 1996;Soares and Grossi, 2002;Thieme et al, 2003Thieme et al, , 2006Redondo et al, 2004;Castel et al, 2009Castel et al, , 2012Alda et al, 2011;Luciano et al, 2011Luciano et al, , 2014Miro et al, 2011;Parra-Delgado and Latorre-Postigo, 2013;Wicksell et al, 2013;Martınez et al, 2014;Garcia-Palacios et al, 2015;Karlsson et al, 2015), of which 10 were conducted in Spain (Redondo et al, 2004;Castel et al, 2009Castel et al, , 2012Alda et al, 2011;Luciano et al, 2011Luciano et al, , 2014Miro et al, 2011;ParraDelgado and Latorre-Postigo, 2013;Martınez et al, 2014;Garcia-Palacios et al, 2015), five in Scandinavian countries (Burckhardt et al, 1994;Wigers et al, 1996;Soares and Grossi, 2002;Wicksell et al, 2013;Karlsson et al, 2015), two studies in Germany (Thieme et al, 2003(Thieme et al, , 2006 and one study in the Netherlands (Vlaeyen et al, 1996). Ten studies were conducted in North America (USA) (Nicassio et al, 1997;Oliver et al, 2001;King et al, 2002...…”

“…All studies were conducted by live face-toface contact except one study which was delivered by telephone (voice-to-voice) (Ang et al, 2010). CBTs were delivered by all studies in groups only except three studies which combined individual and group sessions (Soares and Grossi, 2002;KashikarZuck et al, 2005;Garcia-Palacios et al, 2015) and one study with single person therapy (Kashikar-Zuck et al, 2012).…”