Hypnosis has been used to reduce pain in a number of painful clinical conditions as well as experimental pain (Jensen et al. 2000). Hypnosis is appealing as a potential treatment because it is non-pharmacological although its use is controversial given the variability in hypnotic responsiveness.
Table 11: Hypnotic Suggestion and Post-SCI Pain
Discussion
Jensen et al. (2009) randomly allocated participants into hypnosis or the biofeedback treatment group. Participants in the hypnosis group reported a significant decrease in neuropathic pain intensity compared to those in the biofeedback group (p<0.01). However, no such effect was seen between the two groups in individuals without neuropathic pain. Jensen et al. (2000), in a before and after study, examined the impact of hypnosis on pain post-SCI. Eighty-six percent (86%) of the SCI patients reported a decrease in pain intensity and unpleasantness after hypnosis, although there was no control group.
Conclusion
There is level 2 and level 4 evidence (from one randomized controlled trial and one pre-post study; Jensen et al. 2009, 2000) that hypnosis reduces neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain intensity post SCI.
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Hypnosis may reduce neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain intensity post SCI.
