Reducept: a VR-app for Chronic Pain patients
Reducept is a VR-app to treat pain. It is created by a Dutch company. The idea of the app is to make the brain less sensitive to pain. It does this by using combining different therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance, and commitment therapy. You can also play Reducept ‘flat’ (2D) on your mobile phone too, so a VR-headset or VR smartphone is no longer required.
The app has two main features. First several games where you try to destroy the pain impulses by ‘shooting’ them. It takes a couple of minutes to finish these games. I found these games lacking in diversity, fun to play once or twice but not more. The other part is mindfulness therapy, which could have been done better. It also lacks diversity.
I believe the solution to treat chronic pain is to help the brain better interpret (pain) signals from the body. In chronic pain patients, pain signals become too important, and the brain places too much focus on them. The idea of the VR headset leading you into a world where you can moderate these pain impulses is great. This is definitely a way forward and hopefully leads to more development in this area.
It costs about EUR 15 per month plus costs of a VR headset if desired.
Unfortunately, it did not work for me. But I would definitely recommend trying the app. t’s pretty cheap and I like the basic idea behind it. You can read more about Reducept here: https://www.reducept.com/
