RecruitingNot Applicable

VR-PMR for Post-Burn Symptoms

United States34 participantsStarted 2026-02-27

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), delivered either alone or enhanced with virtual reality (VR), can help treat chronic symptom, such as pain, itch, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and fatigue, in adult burn survivors. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does VR-enhanced PMR (VR-PMR) reduce chronic pain, anxiety, itch, sleep disturbances, and fatigue more effectively than standard PMR? * Is VR-PMR a feasible and acceptable self-administered home-based intervention for burn survivors? Researchers will compare two self-administered intervention conditions, VR-enhanced PMR and standard PMR, using a randomized to sequence crossover design to see if VR technology enhances the therapeutic effects of PMR on chronic symptom management in burn survivors. Participants will: * Complete home-based sessions of VR-enhanced PMR * Complete home-based sessions of standard PMR * Report symptoms such as pain, itch, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and fatigue throughout the study * Use VR equipment provided for the intervention period (during the VR-PMR arm)

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria are: * ≥18 years old; * sustained a burn injury in the last 6 months or longer; * Score high on at least one of the following: Insomnia severity index (ISI) score of ≥8, Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF) Pain severity score of ≥3, or PROMIS Itch Severity of ≥55; * own a smartphone or computer with reliable internet connection for online visits and survey completion; * able to comfortably wear goggles or headsets on face as determined by self-report. Exclusion criteria: * Cognitive impairment (Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) \< 25); * history of motion sickness, photosensitivity, photoinduced seizures, and claustrophobia as determined by self-report; * uncorrected visual or hearing impairments as determined by self-report; * non-English speaker.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Pain Intensity as assessed by the the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).

Timeframe: pre intervention and post VR-PMR intervention (3 weeks)

Itch Intensity as assessed by the the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Timeframe: pre intervention and post VR-PMR intervention (3 weeks)

Anxiety as assessed by the Numeric Rating Scale

Timeframe: Pre intervention, post VR-PMR intervention (3 weeks)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07317271

SponsorJohns Hopkins University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-12

Contact for this trial

Lynn Nakad, PhD, RN

410-550-9056 lnakad1@jhmi.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Burn trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Pain Intensity as assessed by the the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).

Timeframe: pre intervention and post VR-PMR intervention (3 weeks)

Itch Intensity as assessed by the the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Timeframe: pre intervention and post VR-PMR intervention (3 weeks)

Anxiety as assessed by the Numeric Rating Scale

Timeframe: Pre intervention, post VR-PMR intervention (3 weeks)