Virtual reality could help patients with fear of needles and pain

Virtual reality (VR) could replace local anaesthesia to reduce pain and discomfort during simple medical procedures, and could help people with needle phobia, according to research published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

In the US, nine patients, aged between four and 70 years, were provided with VR headsets during minor procedures that would normally be painful and may require local anaesthetic. The researchers found that all participants included in the study experienced minimal pain, with half experiencing no pain at all. All participants, regardless of age, reported finding the technology simple to use.

VR is believed to have this positive effect on pain due to the multi-sensory, immersive nature of the simulated environment. This acts as a distraction in the brain, which interacts with how pain is perceived. Holly Barber of the British Association of Dermatologists, said, “There are a huge number of people for whom minor medical procedures, such as getting injections or having stitches, are incredibly stressful. This leads to people putting them off for as long as possible, potentially endangering their health. This research is at a very early stage, but it suggests that VR could be a way to solve this problem.”