{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,7]],"date-time":"2025-08-07T09:23:03Z","timestamp":1754558583844,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,24]],"date-time":"2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750723200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Digit. Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title><jats:p>Guided imagery is a strategy utilized in chronic pain management by patients. Benefits are cumulative via ongoing application. Engagement via Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming more accessible as a strategy to enhance adherence, use and benefit of guided imagery. We conducted a preliminary investigation of the feasibility, acceptability, patient experience, and efficacy of the use of VR for patients with chronic pain to use at home.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>36 patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or Low Back Pain were randomly assigned to VR or audio only guided imagery groups. Feasibility, acceptability and patient experience were rated by participants. Outcomes assessed at baseline and post-intervention were pain, mental and physical health, and mood.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Results indicate that the intervention was feasible and found acceptable by participants. The intervention also demonstrated promising preliminary efficacy based on self-reported within-group decreases in pain, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and improvements in physical and mental functioning.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>The use of VR shows promise for enhancing the application and experience of guided imagery training with people who have chronic pain.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fdgth.2025.1505861","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,24]],"date-time":"2025-06-24T14:45:47Z","timestamp":1750776347000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Feasibility, acceptability, patient experience, and preliminary efficacy of a virtual reality guided imagery intervention for chronic pain"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Lauren","family":"Doan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Marc","family":"Recasens","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Jessica","family":"Lake","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Ian","family":"Miller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Elise","family":"Vierra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Steven","family":"Richeimer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Iris","family":"Yao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Doerte U.","family":"Junghaenel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Faye","family":"Weinstein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e30260","DOI":"10.2196\/30260","article-title":"Distracting through procedural pain and distress using virtual reality and guided imagery in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients: randomized controlled trial","volume":"24","author":"Hoag","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1007\/s11916-021-00991-y","article-title":"Effect of guided imagery on pain and health-related quality of life in musculoskeletal medicine: a comprehensive narrative review","volume":"25","author":"Kaplun","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr Pain Headache Rep"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1089\/acm.2006.12.23","article-title":"Effects of guided imagery on outcomes of pain, functional status, and self-efficacy in persons diagnosed with fibromyalgia","volume":"12","author":"Menzies","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Altern Complement Med"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6882-5-21","article-title":"Effects among healthy subjects of the duration of regularly practicing a guided imagery program","volume":"5","author":"Watanabe","year":"2005","journal-title":"BMC Complement Altern Med"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"742989","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.742989","article-title":"Mindfulness-informed guided imagery to target physical activity: a mixed method feasibility and acceptability pilot study","volume":"12","author":"Mitchell","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bjc.6690349","article-title":"Psychological, clinical and pathological effects of relaxation training and guided imagery during primary chemotherapy","volume":"80","author":"Walker","year":"1999","journal-title":"Br J Cancer"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctcp.2008.04.002","article-title":"Patients\u2019 perceptions of the effectiveness of guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation interventions used for cancer pain","volume":"14","author":"Kwekkeboom","year":"2008","journal-title":"Complement Ther Clin Pract"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1016\/S1524-9042(02)54213-2","article-title":"A pilot study to predict success with guided imagery for cancer pain","volume":"4","author":"Kwekkeboom","year":"2003","journal-title":"Pain Manag Nurs"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1016\/j.breast.2008.09.002","article-title":"Immuno-modulatory effects of relaxation training and guided imagery in women with locally advanced breast cancer undergoing multimodality therapy: a randomised controlled trial","volume":"18","author":"Eremin","year":"2009","journal-title":"Breast"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.57.5.341","article-title":"Bridging psychology and biology. 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