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The effect of bodily illusions on clinical pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pain
March 1, 2016
Eva Boesch et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effect of bodily illusions, including virtual walking illusions, on pain modulation.

Results Summary

Conflicting results were found for virtual walking illusions, with no consistent evidence of pain modulation. Some bodily illusions, such as mirror therapy and bodily resizing, showed therapeutic promise for pain reduction.

Population

Not specified (studies evaluating bodily illusions and pain modulation).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Varied (e.g., 4-6 weeks for mirror therapy, single session for some illusions)

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
illusions of the existence of a body part (myoelectric/Sauerbruch prosthesis vs cosmetic/no prosthesis)
decrease
pain
-
standardized mean differences = -1.84, 95% CI = -2.67 to -1.00
pain decrease
#1
4 to 6 weeks of mirror therapy
decrease
pain
-
standardized mean differences = -1.11, 95% CI = -1.66 to -0.56
pain decrease
#2
Bodily resizing illusions
neutral
pain
-
-
pain modulation
#3
1 session of mirror therapy
no change
pain
-
-
no effect on pain
#4
incongruent movement illusions
no change
pain
-
-
no effect on pain
#5
incongruent movement illusion
increase
pain
-
-
significantly increased the odds of experiencing pain
#6
virtual walking illusions
neutral
pain
-
-
conflicting results
#7
resizing illusions
no change
pain
-
-
no effect on pain evoked by noxious stimuli
#8
embodiment illusions
no change
pain
-
-
no effect
#9
synchronous mirrored stroking
decrease
pain
nonresponders to traditional mirror therapy
-
significant pain decrease
#10
bodily illusions
neutral
pain
-
-
can alter pain
#11
Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis critically examined the evidence for bodily illusions to modulate pain. Six databases were searched; 2 independent reviewers completed study inclusion, risk of bias assessment, and data extraction. Included studies evaluated the effect of a bodily illusion on pain, comparing results with a control group/condition. Of the 2213 studies identified, 20 studies (21 experiments) were included. Risk of bias was high due to selection bias and lack of blinding. Consistent evidence of pain decrease was found for illusions of the existence of a body part (myoelectric/Sauerbruch prosthesis vs cosmetic/no prosthesis; standardized mean differences = -1.84, 95% CI = -2.67 to -1.00) and 4 to 6 weeks of mirror therapy (standardized mean differences = -1.11, 95% CI = -1.66 to -0.56). Bodily resizing illusions had consistent evidence of pain modulation (in the direction hypothesized). Pooled data found no effect on pain for 1 session of mirror therapy or for incongruent movement illusions (except for comparisons with congruent mirrored movements: incongruent movement illusion significantly increased the odds of experiencing pain). Conflicting results were found for virtual walking illusions (both active and inactive control comparisons). Single studies suggest no effect of resizing illusions on pain evoked by noxious stimuli, no effect of embodiment illusions, but a significant pain decrease with synchronous mirrored stroking in nonresponders to traditional mirror therapy. There is limited evidence to suggest that bodily illusions can alter pain, but some illusions, namely mirror therapy, bodily resizing, and use of functional prostheses show therapeutic promise.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Body ImageClinical Trials as TopicHumansIllusionsPainPain Management
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy50/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations67
Citations/Year7.4
Relative Citation Ratio3.82
NIH Percentile89.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score1.87
Normalized Score0.54
Related Supplements
The effect of bodily illusions on clinical pain: a systemati... | Panacea Index