The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine: The Role of Virtual Reality in Pain Management, WHO’S controversial diagnosis on gaming addictions, the TikTok ban and psychology of doom scrolling, and the risk of smart devices replacing annual checkups

The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine® is a pop-culture medical newsletter and exclusive benefit for 2 Minute Medicine Plus subscribers.

We begin with a discussion about a how virtual reality is used in patient management and modern medicine. Then, we examine the WHO’s diagnosis on video game addictions. After that, we take a closer look at the recent TikTok ban controversy and how short-form content impacts our health. Finally, we discuss how smart devices may be the future of health management and monitoring.

The Role of Virtual Reality in Pain Management: Inspired by Innovations in modern Tech

The Story: In January 2025, the University of Montreal published a remarkable news article that describes the positive relief on pain and anxiety that immersive imagery and hypnotic techniques brought patients in the university’s hospital networks. 

What is VR?

Virtual Reality (VR) is an immersive experience where users can interact with a virtual three dimensional environment that is typically projected on a head mount. VR has typically been used in video gaming, where it allows users to feel as though they are in the game rather than controlling a character. Over the years, VR has expanded to be used in educational practices, training, and stimulation devices for children and adolescent development. Now, popular brands such as Apple and Meta are releasing their own VR games and technology, aiming to make VR more accessible to the public. 

So, how does VR provide pain relief?

VR has been found to reduce pain scores experienced by patients receiving wound dressings, IV placements, or chemotherapy. Hospital visits are not exactly fun, and often filled with new, unpleasant, or anxiety inducing experiences among an already uncertain time. Emotional distress and chaotic environments impact the individual pain response deeply. However, a uniquely calm, entertaining, and positive experience can be tailored to the individual patient with a VR interface to reduce anxiety. 

Video Gaming: Addiction or Hobby? WHO’s Controversial Diagnosis 

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) by the World Health Organization (WHO) recently described a gaming disorder as a “pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, […] where continuation or escalation occurs despite negative consequences”. This decision was made as a result of gaming impacting the behaviour of youth to an extent of impairing daily life and normal functioning.

Addiction happens when we lose control over a behavior, whether it’s tied to a substance, activity, or object. Video games, for example, trigger a surge of dopamine, activating the brain’s reward system. In moderation, gaming is both fun and satisfying, where our brains recognize the enjoyment and encourage us to play again. But when gaming becomes excessive, our reward pathways can become desensitized, making time away from the screen feel dull or even unbearable. This withdrawal effect pushes us to play even more, chasing that same dopamine rush. Over time, what started as a hobby can spiral into an addiction.

It is important to recognize signs and symptoms of a lack of control over one’s behaviour, such as social withdrawal from in person relationships, lack of interest in previous hobbies, lying about gaming, and depression or anxiety. Finding different pastimes to rotate between, taking momentary stretching or snack breaks during gaming, and optimizing physical activity and mental health is crucial to avoiding inappropriate uses of video gaming. While video games can be educational and so much fun, it is important to recognize when they take control of our lives. 

The TikTok ban, Doomscrolling, and the Science Behind Social Media Dependence 

On January 18th, 2025, at 10:30 am, TikTok was banned in the United States as the Supreme Court upheld a ban signed in April. Many influencers, content creators, businesses, and users mourned the loss – but why is the use of this app so missed?

Tiktok is known for its easy, digestible, short-form content videos. The genres covered on TikTok span from dancing trends, cooking tutorials, short-form vlogs, trending memes, and music. Users are able to interact with content that interests them, personalizing future recommendations on the app. TikTok has become a sensation, amassing almost 1 billion monthly users worldwide. 

Social media, and particularly TikTok, can lead to a continuous pattern (known as doomscrolling) of watching short-form content for hours without realizing. This occurs as algorithms allow new videos to play after the previous has finished without the user even clicking a new link or button.The habenula in our brain is a small structure connecting the midbrain and the hindbrain responsible for regulating emotions, decision-making, and motivation. Continuous scrolling allows for continuous gratification and entertainment to be achieved without much effort, training the habenula to remember this pattern. 

Apple Watches, Fitbits, and Smartphones: Are they the future of healthcare? 

Smartphones, smartwatches, and other smart devices have become a huge part of our daily lives. We use them to look up information, stay in touch with friends and family, and now—even track our health and fitness. Popular health apps include heart rate and EKG monitors, Strava for tracking workouts, and sleep cycle analyzers. In 2024, a survey found that 98% of respondents owned a smartphone, and 59% used a wearable device.

Smart devices and apps can help people reach their fitness goals, keep track of their health, and monitor daily activity and sleep patterns more consistently. Wearable devices are especially useful for post-surgery cardiac monitoring, as they can track vital signs and detect irregular heart rhythms. This improves post-operative outcomes, ensuring providers react quickly to complications. They also support healthier eating habits by making it easier to log meals and track nutrients. This can support patients in sticking to lifestyle changes prescribed by their care providers. While smart apps don’t offer personalized healthcare the same way a longitudinal provider could, they are still a valuable tool for improving overall health and wellness.

Smart devices make health information and wellness encouragement more accessible to a large population. Their biggest advantage over in-person care is their convenience, ease of use, and ability to continuously track health patterns. Hospital use can include tracking inpatient progress more efficiently, such as tracking the trend of vitals or labs over time. Health apps can help providers diagnose conditions more accurately, monitor ongoing issues, and catch new symptoms that might otherwise be overlooked.