About this trial
Chronic itch is a disabling condition with currently limited treatment options. Virtual reality (VR) is a relatively new approach that provides immersion in another environment and has been shown to have a temporary itch mitigating potential. Hypnosis, which is a state of relaxation, has been successfully applied with more long-term treatment effects in the specific case of itch as a result of severe atopic dermatitis. However, hypnosis tends to depend on an individual's susceptibility, or ease, to come into a hypnotic state. A combination of VR and hypnosis (VRH) has been put forward since it may combine the longer lasting effects of hypnosis with VR making the hypnosis more accessible by facilitating imagination. Even though VRH is a promising avenue, it has never been investigated in the context of itch. In this randomized controlled trial, comparing a VRH treatment with a waiting list control group after 6 sessions and at follow-up, it is aimed to assess the effectiveness of VRH in reducing itch along with its psychological burden in adult individuals with therapy-resistant disabling itch.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Participants must be adults (aged 18-80 years)
Participants must have been suffering from chronic pruritus of any origin for at least 1 year prior to inclusion in this study
Participants must have been seen by a physician for the itch
Participants must experience psychological and/or functional impairment due to the itch despite standard medical treatment.
Disqualifiers
Severe psychiatric comorbidities irrelated to their itch condition such as psychosis or severe clinical depression or anxiety disorder (anxiety and depressive symptoms in itself are common in individuals with chronic symptoms and therefore no reason for exclusion);
History of seizures;
History of severe migraine;
Severe susceptibility to motion sickness;
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Virtual Reality-assisted hypnosis
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Universiteit Leiden
Lead sponsor
Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)
Collaborator