Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Digital Therapy on Negative Emotion, Pain Level and Quality of Life in Patients With Postherpetic Neuralgia

Aims/Background Patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) often experience impairments of emotion, sleep and quality of life. This study aims to explore the usage of digital therapy enhanced with virtual reality technology in the improvement of mood, pain level, and quality of life in patients experiencing moderate to severe pain. Methods In this prospective, single-centre clinical study, 100 herpes zoster patients experiencing moderate to severe neuropathic pain from November 2024 to January 2025 were enrolled. In addition to the application of 5% lidocaine topical patch combined with Pre-Bahrain system medication, the patients received a 14-day virtual reality (VR) treatment, encompassing evaluations at several time points: the first day (T0), the third day (T1), the seventh day (T2), and the 14th day (T3). Results The results of emotion and pain in all PHN patients evaluated at four time points showed that the self-reported scores of generalised anxiety disorder 7 (GAD-7), numerical rating scale (NRS), and visual analogue scale (VAS) were improved during the 14-day treatment period (p < 0.05). Outcomes in sleep, stress and mood disturbance scale, based on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-A) and PROMIS-B, showed that the patients' sleep status, stress levels and emotional problems achieved improvements. The PROMIS-A and PROMIS-B of VR treatment at T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher compared with that at T0 (p < 0.05). PHN patients achieved significantly higher levels of self-efficacy at T1, T2 and T3 during VR treatment compared with results recorded at T0 (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) results showed that the quality of life and health of PHN patients were significantly improved following the 14-day treatment (p < 0.05). Over time, PHN patients have grown satisfied with VR therapy. Conclusion Digital therapy based on virtual reality technology has a profoundly beneficial impact on the management of pain, the alleviation of psychiatric symptoms, and the improvement of the quality of life of PHN patients. Clinical Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR2400092850 ).