Hypnotic Self-Regulation of Chronic Pain

Abstract

A more diverse conceptualization of pain including the motivational-affective, cognitive-evaluative, as well as sensory components has resulted in a greater emphasis on “central” factors in pain and the development of comprehensive treatments directed at these various components. This study is one such treatment program. Eight patients with chronic pain (mean duration of 8.8 years) were trained in a hypnotic self-regulation procedure to modify pain. Pre and post measures were collected on a series of indices relevant to the pain experience. The post-treatment evaluation indicated significant reductions in: (1) daily pain intensity, (2) the degree to which pain, interferred with major life areas (e.g., sleep and social activity), (3) life dissatisfaction and suffering, (4) personality characteristics relevant to chronic pain and (5) percentage of self-administered pain medication. Despite the lack of a no-treatment comparison and placebo-attention controls, the chronicity of pain and the lack of effectiveness of prior medical interventions suggest that this treatment program is an effective agent in the control of chronic pain.