The Effect of Hypnosis on Blood Concentrations of Endocannabinoids
- Conditions
- HypnosisEndocannabinoidsAnalgesia
- Interventions
- Behavioral: HypnosisBehavioral: MeditationOther: Conditioned pain modulationDrug: Placebo Oral Tablet
- Registration Number
- NCT03407937
- Lead Sponsor
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Brief Summary
Introduction: Many interventions such as hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, conditioned pain modulation and placebos have been shown to effectively reduce pain both in the laboratory and in clinical settings. However, little is known about their neurophysiological mechanisms of action. Analgesia induced by these techniques is thought to be based on opioidergic and non-opioidergic mechanisms (potentially endocannabinoid mechanisms). Objective: Our main objective is to evaluate the effect of hypnosis, meditation, conditioned pain modulation and placebo on blood concentrations of endocannabinoids (anandamide, 2-arachidonylglycerol, N-palmitoyl-ethanolamine, N-oleoylethanolamide), endogenous opioids (β-endorphins, met / leu-enkephalins, and dynorphins) and norepinephrine in healthy adults. Methods: This study is based on a single-group pre-experimental research design in which two experimental sessions including hypnosis or meditation, conditioned pain modulation and placebo interventions will be completed by all participants. In order to have a better description of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the sample, information will be collected by questionnaires or tests filled by participants at baseline, including: age, sex, language, culture, religion, salary, menstrual cycle of women, medication (if any), mood, anxiety, pain catastrophizing, mindfulness, hypnotic susceptibility, and DNA information. Outcome measures will be collected before, during and after each intervention. The primary outcome is plasma concentrations of endocannabinoids. Secondary measurements include plasma concentrations of endogenous opioids and norepinephrine; change in pain intensity during the thermal noxious stimuli; and autonomic nervous system variability (as measured by heart rate variability). Anticipated results: The investigators expect a positive relationship between the change in pain intensity (analgesia) induced by the interventions (hypnosis, meditation, conditioned pain modulation, and placebo) and the change (increase) in plasma concentrations of endocannabinoids, opioids, and norepinephrine in healthy adults. It is also believed that the interventions will influence heart rate variability. Moreover, it is expected that there will be a relationship between the efficiency of the analgesic intervention and some gene polymorphisms associated to pain modulation and endocannabinoids, opioids or norepinephrine in healthy individuals.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 33
- Being an healthy adult aged 18-45 years old with no prior experience of hypnosis.
- Having difficulty understanding french language
- Having a vulnerability to dissociative or psychotic episodes
- Having a diagnosed medical condition or diagnosis of chronic pain leading to kidney, liver, dermatological, respiratory, hematological, immunological, cardiovascular, inflammatory, rheumatologic, endocrine, metabolic, neurological or psychiatric pathologies
- Being pregnant or breast-feeding
- Having a body mass index over 40
- Using medication, recreational drugs or other agents that affect the central nervous system or the perception of pain (e.g., analgesics, opioids, antiepileptics, muscle relaxers)
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Intervention Hypnosis Receiving the conditioned pain modulation intervention during the first session and receiving the placebo and the hypnosis or meditation interventions during the second session. Intervention Meditation Receiving the conditioned pain modulation intervention during the first session and receiving the placebo and the hypnosis or meditation interventions during the second session. Intervention Conditioned pain modulation Receiving the conditioned pain modulation intervention during the first session and receiving the placebo and the hypnosis or meditation interventions during the second session. Intervention Placebo Oral Tablet Receiving the conditioned pain modulation intervention during the first session and receiving the placebo and the hypnosis or meditation interventions during the second session.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change from baseline concentration of endocannabinoids at the end of the intervention Immediately before and after each intervention Concentrations (ng/ml) of endocannabinoids (anandamide, 2-arachidonylglycerol, N-palmitoyl-ethanolamine, N-oleoylethanolamide) will be measured in the plasma of participants
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Measure of the autonomic nervous system Immediately before, during and immediately after each intervention This outcome will be measured by heart rate variability
Quantitative aspect of pain Immediately before and after each intervention Quantitative aspect of pain, or pain intensity, will be measured and averaged for the entire duration (two minutes) of the pain tests on a Computerized Visual Analog Scale (CoVAS). This CoVAS scale ranges from 0% to 100%. Higher values on this scale represent more intense pain.
DNA in salivary sample Immediately after all the interventions have been completed, which will be during the second session after the pill has been ingested DNA polymorphisms potentially associated with analgesia, endocannabinoids, opioids or norepinephrine
Change from baseline concentrations of norepinephrine at the end of the intervention Immediately before and after each intervention Concentrations (ng/ml) of norepinephrine will be measured in the plasma of participants
Change from baseline concentrations of opioids at the end of the intervention Immediately before and after each intervention Concentrations (ng/ml) of opioids (beta-endorphins, met/leu-enkephalins, and dynorphins) will be measured in the plasma of participants
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
CRCHUS: Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke
🇨🇦Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada