Use of the Apple Vision Pro in reducing pain and anxiety in a hospitalized patient with mixed connective tissue disease

Pouya Rezazadeh Azar, James Wong, Victor W. LiLecture Hall K

The overprescribing of opioids is associated with harms, such as opioid use disorder, overdose, and death, thus the development and evaluation of non-pharmacological treatments are paramount in reducing dependence on opioids and opioid-induced adverse effects and optimizing pain management.

Mindfulness is a practice characterized by bringing attention to the present moment through awareness and acceptance of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings. It has been increasingly utilized to manage physical and mental health conditions by helping with relaxation and counteracting stressors. Virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) guided mindfulness interventions allow the user to isolate from external distractions and experience multisensory environments, which can facilitate the effectiveness of the mindfulness practice. The Apple Vision Pro is a recently released advanced VR/AR headset that incorporates an array of high-resolution cameras, sensors, and displays with powerful processors, surpassing many of the devices that preceded it. The elevated realistic and immersive experiences enabled by this technology can deepen the mindfulness practice and improve its effectiveness on the user.

This workshop presents one of the first clinical uses of the Apple Vision Pro, an advanced virtual reality/augmented reality headset, in managing pain, anxiety, and opioid requirements in a hospitalized patient with mixed connective tissue disease. Utilizing the mindfulness app, the intervention reduced the patient's pain from an average of 4.67/10 pre-intervention to 1.83/10 post-intervention, and anxiety from 6.5/10 to 2.83/10. Despite challenges with the device's fit, the results suggest that the intervention could serve as an effective non-pharmacological treatment modality. The workshop will further explore how the Apple Vision Pro can be utilized for other applications in managing substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and pain. Participants will engage in discussions on the technology's versatility.

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Wed 7:30 - 9:00

Workshop