Putting pain out of mind with an ‘out of body’ illusion

Background Chronic pain is a growing societal concern that warrants scientific investigation, especially given the ineffectiveness of many treatments. Given evidence that pain experience relies on multisensory integration, there is interest in using body ownership illusions for reducing acute pain. Aim In the present study, we investigate whether patients’ experience of chronic pain could be reduced by full body illusions (FBIs) that cause participants to dissociate from their own body. Methods Participants with chronic pain (including sciatica, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, muscular pain, IBS and back pain) viewed their own ‘virtual’ bodies via a video camera and head-mounted display for two minutes. In the ‘back-stroking FBI’, their backs were stroked with a stick while they viewed synchronous or asynchronous stroking on the virtual body and in the ‘front-stroking FBI’, they were stroked near their collarbone while viewing the stick approach their field of view in a synchronous or asynchronous fashion. Illusion strength and pain intensity were measured with self-report questionnaires. Results We found that full body illusions were experienced by patients with chronic pain and further, that pain intensity was reduced by an average of 37% after illusion (synchronous) conditions. Conclusion These findings add support to theories that high-level multisensory body representations can interact with homeostatic regulation and pain perception. Significance Pain intensity in chronic pain patients was reduced by 37% by ‘out of body’ illusions. These data demonstrate the potential of such illusions for the management of chronic pain.