Virtual Reality and Hypnosis May Help Ease Anxiety Before a Bone Marrow Procedure

A bone marrow aspiration biopsy is a test many blood cancer patients undergo to help diagnose or monitor their condition. Even when performed with local anesthesia, the experience often brings feelings of worry. A recent study published in Nature explored whether mind-body approaches such as virtual reality and hypnosis could help reduce this anxiety before the procedure.

Many people may feel anxious before undergoing a bone marrow procedure

The study found that the most common concerns before a bone marrow aspiration biopsy included:

• Fear of the procedure itself.
• Fear of pain.
• Fear of what results might show. 

These concerns are normal responses to an invasive test and may influence how a person feels physically and emotionally.

Simple tools can help people overcome anxiety by using a mind-body approach

Virtual reality (VR) uses a headset to display calming environments that help focus attention. Hypnosis is a guided state of focused awareness that supports relaxation. Both are considered mind-body approaches, which means they work by helping the mind shift attention and reduce stress signals in the body.

In this study, people used VR or listened to a brief prerecorded hypnosis session for seven minutes before their procedure.

The research team randomly assigned 67 adults into three groups: VR, hypnosis, or standard care. Participants identified their main concerns before the procedure and rated how much these concerns were bothering them. These ratings were repeated right after the intervention and again after the procedure. The goal was to see whether concerns improved with VR or hypnosis.

Virtual reality proved to have the best short-term improvement

Results showed that VR led to a greater immediate reduction in patient concerns compared to standard care. After the biopsy, differences between groups were smaller, meaning the strongest benefit occurred right before the procedure. 

Younger patients, those with fewer medical conditions, and those who naturally become easily absorbed in experiences reported the most improvement with VR.

Hypnosis has similar effects to standard treatment

The hypnosis session did not show a clear advantage over standard care in this particular study. The authors note that hypnosis is often more effective when sessions are longer or when provided in advance of the procedure, so the short timing and format may have limited its impact.

Mind-body approaches to enhance people’s experience 

While these findings are exploratory, they suggest that VR can offer a calming benefit before a bone marrow procedure, especially as a non-medication-based option. This aligns with broader integrative oncology recommendations supporting mind-body tools to reduce stress and improve patient experience.

Not everyone responds to VR or hypnosis in the same way. The study revealed that individual traits, such as age, health conditions, and focus capacity, can impact the effectiveness of these interventions for each person.

Preparing for a procedure can also involve making sure you feel comfortable and calm

Bone marrow procedures are an important part of blood cancer care, and feeling anxious beforehand is common. This research suggests that virtual reality and hypnosis could offer short-term relief for some people. 

If you have an upcoming procedure, talk with your care team about available mind-body options and how they may fit into your preparation. You can also explore additional integrative support resources through HealthTree, as learning about these tools can help you navigate procedures with greater confidence.

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Sources: 

• Virtual reality and hypnosis for symptom alleviation before bone marrow procedure