A new convergence of technologies is offering potential relief for millions living with acute and chronic pain. Researchers in Quebec are pioneering a treatment that combines medical hypnosis with virtual reality, building on the established benefits of both too alter a patient’s perception of discomfort [[1]]. While still under investigation through a randomized clinical trial, the approach aims to give patients greater control over their pain experience and potentially reduce reliance on opioid-based medications amid a continuing public health crisis [[2]].
Virtual Reality and Hypnosis Show Promise in Pain Management
A novel approach combining medical hypnosis with virtual reality is offering new hope for individuals struggling with pain. The technique leverages the established benefits of hypnosis – a method of pain management that uses guided suggestions to alter a patient’s perception of discomfort – and enhances it with immersive digital environments. This could represent a significant step forward in how chronic and acute pain are addressed, offering patients more control over their experience.
Researchers are exploring how the pairing of these technologies can help patients visualize and interact with their pain in new ways. The system, developed in Quebec, originally aimed to provide end-of-life patients with the opportunity to virtually “visit” places they had always dreamed of exploring. Now, it’s being adapted for broader pain management applications.
One approach, dubbed “magic hand,” allows patients wearing a VR headset to see a representation of their own hand and then apply virtual “glitter” to the area where they feel pain. Another technique involves “objectifying” the pain – making it visible on the hand so the patient can then virtually remove it. “These are ways of regaining control over your pain and over your body,” explains Valentyn Fournier.
The technology isn’t simply about distraction, though that is a component. Researchers are investigating the underlying physiological mechanisms at play, noting similarities to mindfulness practices.
Virtual reality acts as a powerful sensory diversion, intensely engaging the brain through sight, sound, and concentration. This redirects mental resources away from processing pain signals. Hypnosis then builds on this by guiding patients toward pleasant sensations and progressive relaxation. According to David Ogez, studies in neuroscience suggest these techniques can modulate activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex – brain regions involved in the emotional and perceptual processing of pain. “So, the pain is still there, but its unpleasantness and intensity are lessened,” he says.
Being immersed in natural environments within the virtual reality experience also provides psychological benefits. “Nature brings about a restoration of attention, it diverts attention from negative stimuli and directs attentional capacities towards positive stimuli,” Fournier adds.
Beyond immediate relief, the research team hopes to empower patients to develop self-hypnosis skills they can use at home. They are working toward developing a neurotherapy – a technique to train and regulate brain activity in real-time – that would allow individuals with chronic pain to synchronize their physiological responses with the imagery of virtual reality.
The project is currently undergoing a randomized clinical trial, but preliminary feedback from participants has been encouraging. “We have good satisfaction results, but we must not confuse satisfaction with efficacy. However, we have good hopes, as pain is partly a subjective experience,” Ogez concludes.
