Extended Reality Interventions for Chronic Pain
Systematic review · March 2024
VA Evidence Synthesis Program · 97 pages
The best starting point here for comparing evidence by pain condition and intervention. The review includes 60 primary studies and assesses benefits, harms, and certainty.
Limits: Database searches ended in May 2023. Findings are not a blanket endorsement of VR or any product; many results were uncertain.
Where to start: Printed pages 79–83 (PDF pages 84–88) for discussion and conclusions.
Related guides: VR pain evidence · VR at home
Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety at a Veterans Affairs Health Care Facility
Single-site evaluation · October 5, 2021
Rawlins et al. · Frontiers in Virtual Reality · 11 pages
A before-and-after evaluation of 79 Veterans using VR at a VA health system. Useful for understanding immediate responses and the experience of a first session.
Limits: No randomized comparison group or evidence of durable benefit from this evaluation. This is a journal article about VA care, not a VA clinical guideline.
Where to start: Pages 3–5 for methods and results; pages 7–9 for limitations and next steps. DOI: 10.3389/frvir.2021.719681.
Read original Open-access article
Related guides: VR pain evidence · First VR session
VA Immersive Playbook
Implementation guide · Summer 2024
VA Immersive · 25 pages
Explains how teams plan immersive technology services, including training, privacy, home use, documentation, and follow-up.
Limits: Written mainly for implementation teams. Administrative steps and internal links reflect 2024; ask the local team to confirm current arrangements.
Where to start: Page 11 for home use; pages 15–18 for privacy, connectivity, safety, and training; page 24 for follow-up.
Related guides: First VR session · VR at home
Introductory Guide to Immersive Technology
Technology introduction · Summer 2023 edition
VA Immersive · 19 pages
Introduces VR, AR, XR, headset features, and interaction methods. A useful vocabulary guide before a clinical demonstration.
Limits: Hardware, software, pricing, and vendor lists are historical. Inclusion does not establish current availability, suitability, coverage, or product endorsement.
Where to start: Pages 3–7 for terminology and device features.
Related guides: First VR session
Immersive Virtual Reality in Health Care Literature Compendium
Literature compendium · June 3, 2024
VA Immersive · 448 pages
A collection of citations and abstracts across nine health care topics. Use it to locate papers relevant to a specific condition or treatment.
Limits: A research discovery tool, not a pooled effectiveness estimate. Its 643 included articles span many uses, not 643 trials proving VR treats chronic pain.
Where to start: Page 3 for methods; Table 1 begins on page 4, physical rehabilitation on page 62; search protocol on pages 447–448.
Related guides: VR pain evidence
Sources used on this page
Public source links checked October 27, 2026. Dates identify the editions reviewed. Historical vendor lists and administrative details may have changed; ask your local care team about current arrangements. The journal study is not a VA clinical guideline. These references do not imply VA endorsement of Valor, establish product-specific outcomes, or determine individual eligibility or coverage.
- Extended Reality Interventions for Chronic Pain (March 2024)
- Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety at a Veterans Affairs Health Care Facility (October 5, 2021)
- VA Immersive Playbook (Summer 2024)
- Introductory Guide to Immersive Technology (Summer 2023 edition)
- Immersive Virtual Reality in Health Care Literature Compendium (June 3, 2024)