Virtual reality exposure therapy as treatment for pain catastrophizing in fibromyalgia patients : proof-of-concept study (study protocol)

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMorris, Linzette D.
dc.contributor.authorGrimmer-Somers, Karen A.
dc.contributor.authorSpottiswoode, Bruce
dc.contributor.authorLouw, Quinette A.
dc.date.accessioned2011-06-14T16:17:13Z
dc.date.available2011-06-14T16:17:13Z
dc.date.issued2011-04-30
dc.date.updated2011-06-14T09:05:58Z
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://www.biomedcentral.comen_ZA
dc.descriptionPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
dc.description.abstractABSTRACT: Background. Albeit exercise is currently advocated as one of the most effective management strategies for fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS); the implementation of exercise as a FMS treatment in reality is significantly hampered by patients' poor compliance. The inference that pain catastrophizing is a key predictor of poor compliance in FMS patients, justifies considering the alteration of pain catastrophizing in improving compliance towards exercises in FMS patients. The aim of this study is to provide proof-of-concept for the development and testing of a novel virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) program as treatment for exercise-related pain catastrophizing in FMS patients. Methods. Two interlinked experimental studies will be conducted. Study 1 aims to objectively ascertain if neurophysiological changes occur in the functional brain areas associated with pain catastrophizing, when catastrophizing FMS subjects are exposed to visuals of exercise activities. Study 2 aims to ascertain the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of exposure to visuals of exercise activities as a treatment for exercise-related pain catastrophizing in FMS subjects. Twenty subjects will be selected from a group of FMS patients attending the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa and randomly allocated to either the VRET (intervention) group or waiting list (control) group. Baseline neurophysiological activity for subjects will be collected in study 1 using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In study 2, clinical improvement in pain catastrophizing will be measured using fMRI (objective) and the pain catastrophizing scale (subjective). Discussion. The premise is if exposing FMS patients to visuals of various exercise activities trigger the functional brain areas associated with pain catastrophizing; then as a treatment, repeated exposure to visuals of the exercise activities using a VRET program could possibly decrease exercise-related pain catastrophizing in FMS patients. Proof-of-concept will either be established or negated. The results of this project are envisaged to revolutionize FMS and pain catastrophizing research and in the future, assist health professionals and FMS patients in reducing despondency regarding FMS management. Trial registration PACTR201011000264179.en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipHenry Crossley Foundation
dc.description.sponsorshipStellenbosch University
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Research Foundation
dc.description.versionPeer Revieweden_ZA
dc.format.extent7 p.
dc.identifier.citationMorris, LD, Grimmer-Somers, KA, Spottiswoode, B & Louw, QA 2011, 'Virtual reality exposure therapy as treatment for pain catastrophizing in fibromyalgia patients : proof-of-concept study (study protocol)', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 30;12(1):85.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1471-2474
dc.identifier.otherhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-85
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/15137
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.publisherBioMed Centralen_ZA
dc.rights.holderMorris et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_ZA
dc.subjectFibromyalgia -- Treatmenten_ZA
dc.subjectFibromyalgia patients -- Exercise therapy -- South Africa -- Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subjectVirtual reality exposure therapyen_ZA
dc.subjectFibromyalgia patients -- Effect of exercise onen_ZA
dc.subjectPain relief -- Virtual reality exposure therapyen_ZA
dc.titleVirtual reality exposure therapy as treatment for pain catastrophizing in fibromyalgia patients : proof-of-concept study (study protocol)en_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1471-2474-12-85.xml
Size:
46.94 KB
Format:
Extensible Markup Language
Description:
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1471-2474-12-85.pdf
Size:
196.76 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Publishers' Version
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Research Articles (Physiotherapy)