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VR-PMR for Post-Burn Symptoms

Recruiting

Virtual Reality-Enhanced Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Symptom Management in Burn Survivors

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Full eligibility criteria

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.

About the study

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)

What is being tested

Virtual Reality-Enhanced Progressive Muscle Relaxation (behavioral)
Standard Progressive Muscle Relaxation (behavioral)

Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University · Participants: 34 · Started: Feb 27, 2026

Contact the study team

Lynn Nakad, PhD, RN · Phone: 410-550-9056

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07317271

Locations in the U.S.

Maryland

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore

Conditions

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.