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ABC News Report

Reporter: Sophie Scott (ABC news)
"Ryan Payne suffered burns to almost 60% of his body in a cooking accident.. He has to undergo painful wound dressings three times a day. Doctors at Melbourne's Alfred hospital are helping him manage his pain using virtual reality. He is offered self-administered morphine through a PCA machine as well as the virtual reality goggles. "

Dr Alex Konstantatos, Specialist Anaesthetist. The Alfred hospital
"Initially they put the goggles on and the machine provides a commentary and some visual imagery and that is all aimed at reducing the patient's anxiety levels."
Sample of hypnosis program and imagery is played

Reporter: Sophie Scott (ABC news)
"It can induce a state of deep relaxation. Some patients can become hypnotized"

Dr Alex Konstantatos, Specialist Anaesthetist. The Alfred hospital
"If a patient can feel deeply relaxed and less anxious, then they will probably have less of a requirement for pharmacology therapies such as morphine"

Reporter: Sophie Scott (ABC news)
"Doctors say that reducing pain killer has advantages as they can slow down patient's breathing and cause nausea. A pilot study of 14 burns patients found they experienced less pain with the technology."

Ryan Payne - burns patient
"It was fantastic. Obviously it relaxes you a lot and puts you in a state where basically you're not focusing on the treatment that's going on or the dressings that's happening."

Reporter: Sophie Scott (ABC news)
"Doctors say the technique is being successfully used with children, but could benefit any patient undergoing a painful procedure."

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