The Effects and Mechanisms of Brief Mindfulness Meditation and Hypnosis for Pain

The University of Queensland

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Chronic Pain; Pain

Treatments: Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation; Behavioral: Self-hypnosis; Other: Attention Control

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05323383

2019/HE000347

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to determine the effects and mechanisms of 1 x 20-min training in mindfulness meditation and self-hypnosis relative to an inert control. Participants will be randomly assigned to condition. The dual primary outcomes will be pre- to post-training changes in current pain intensity and pain unpleasantness. The active treatments are hypothesized to produce greater reductions in pain outcomes than the control. It is also hypothesized that change in mindfulness will be a mediator specific to mindfulness meditation, while change in affect and decentering will be mediators of the hypnosis condition. Moderators of response will also be explored.

Enrollment: 300 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be 18 years of age;
• Experience chronic or recurrent pain;
• Have access to a computer, phone or tablet with internet capability; and
• Be able to read and understand English.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

300 participants in 3 patient groups

Mindfulness meditation

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the mindfulness meditation condition will practice one, 20-minute breath and body focused meditation.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation

Self-Hypnosis

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in self-hypnosis will practice one, 20-minute audio-guided hypnosis session with suggestions tailored towards enhancing positive affect and fostering decentering.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Self-hypnosis

Control

Other group

Description:

Participants in the attention control condition will listen to a 20-minute natural history recording.

Treatment:

Other: Attention Control