Active and passive distraction using a head-mounted display helmet: effects on cold pressor pain in children.

Objective: The current study tested the effectiveness of interactive versus passive distraction that was delivered via a virtual reality type head-mounted display helmet for children experiencing cold pressor pain.

Design: Forty children, aged 5 to 13 years, underwent 1 or 2 baseline cold pressor trials followed by interactive distraction and passive distraction trials in counterbalanced order.

Main Outcome Measures: Pain threshold and pain tolerance.