Efficacy of Immersive Virtual Reality Combined With Multisensor Biofeedback on Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome marked by chronic pain, fatigue, and mood disorders. Nonpharmacologic strategies are recommended to avoid overuse of opioids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but current approaches often provide limited relief. This study aimed to preliminarily assess the efficacy and feasibility of a new combined intervention of immersive virtual reality with multisensor biofeedback (IVR-BF) in FM management.

METHODS

In this single-center, pilot, open-label, randomized controlled trial, adult patients with FM were randomly assigned 1:1 to either the treatment (TR) group, receiving IVR-BF immediately, or a waitlist control (WL) group, receiving IVR-BF after the TR group completed treatment. The primary outcome was reduction in visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores in the TR group, after five IVR-BF sessions, compared to the WL group, after the waiting period. Secondary outcomes included improvements in FM impact (FM Impact Questionnaire [FIQ] score) and qualitative aspect of pain (Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire [SF-MPQ] score). A longitudinal analysis was conducted across all patients to examine the trends in VAS pain, SF-MPQ, and FIQ score during the trial.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were screened, and 20 female patients (10 TR and 10 WL) completed the trial and were analyzed. Those in the TR group showed significantly lower VAS pain scores compared to those in the WL group (P = 0.011), along with significant improvement in the FIQ score (P = 0.018). The longitudinal analysis revealed progressive improvements in VAS pain, SF-MPQ, and FIQ score, supported by physiologic improvements (heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin conductance). No significant safety concerns were reported. Patients expressed a high level of satisfaction with the IVR experience.

CONCLUSION

IVR-BF is a feasible treatment that shows potential in reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with FM, supporting the need for larger trials to further evaluate its efficacy.