Mindfulness Meditation Versus Clinical Hypnosis for Acute, Experimental Pain
- Conditions
- Clinical HypnosisMindfulness Meditation
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Clinical hypnosisBehavioral: Mindfulness meditation
- Registration Number
- NCT04786405
- Lead Sponsor
- The University of Queensland
- Brief Summary
This trial aims to determine the effects and mechanisms (mediators and moderators) of brief training in mindfulness meditation versus clinical hypnosis on acute, experimental pain.
- Detailed Description
Participants (N=200 with complete data) will be healthy undergraduate students or community-based individuals. An experimental, randomised trial will be implemented, with participants randomly assigned to either five daily, 20-minute mindfulness meditation sessions or clinical hypnosis sessions. Repeated measures and experimental pain manipulation will be implemented. Aim 1 is to examine the effects of these two treatments on experimental pain outcomes. Aim 2 is to examine the moderators of these effects. Aim 3 is to determine the mediators underlying improved experimental pain outcomes. Results will refine theory and will inform the future streamlining of treatments to target those mechanisms shown to be of most critical importance.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 105
- 18 years of age or older;
- Able to read, speak and understand English.
- Pregnancy, heart or vascular disease, Raynaud's disease, sickle cell disease, seizure disorder, high blood pressure, or diabetes;
- Experience of recurrent fainting spells;
- Report of a chronic pain condition;
- Use of alcohol and/or pain medication in the last 24-hours;
- Currently receiving psychiatric care;
- Problems with allergic skin reactions or excessive bruising;
- Previous participation in a cold pressor experiment.
- All participants will be asked to consume a fruit box drink prior to the cold pressor to prevent vasovagal reactions.
These exclusion criteria are standard when using a cold pressor task in a healthy undergraduate population and ensure safe procedures to mitigate any potential risks.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Clinical Hypnosis Clinical hypnosis Participants in this arm will complete five, 20-minute clinical hypnosis sessions delivered over consecutive days. Mindfulness Meditation Mindfulness meditation Participants in this arm will complete five, 20-minute mindfulness meditation sessions delivered over consecutive days.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Pain unpleasantness Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) Numerical rating scale in response to exposure to a cold pressor task.
Pain intensity Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) Numerical rating scale in response to exposure to a cold pressor task.
Pain tolerance Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) How long (in seconds) participants tolerate the cold pressor task with the time starting at the point of immersion and stopping when the hand, wrist and forearm were withdrawn from the refrigerated water.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Mechanism: Attention Network Task Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) A computer based task that has been developed to allow assessment of the functioning of the three major attentional networks; alerting, orienting, and executive attention.
Mechanism: Mindfulness Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form
Physiological response to pain stimulus Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) Heart rate data
Mechanism: Mind Wandering Task Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) A computer based task that has been developed to allow assessment of three types of mind wandering.
Mechanism: Pain appraisals Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) Pain Appraisal Inventory
Mechanism: Hypnotizability Baseline score at Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) Stanford Clinical Hypnotizability Scale
Mechanism: Pain catastrophizing Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) Pain Catastrophizing Scale
Mechanism: Pain-Related Cognitive Processes Change from Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) to Experimental Session 5 (Day 5) Pain-Related Cognitive Process Questionnaire34
Mechanism: Pre-treatment expectancies Baseline score at Experimental Session 1 (Day 1) Treatment Expectations Questionnaire
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
The University of Queensland
🇦🇺Brisbane, Queensland, Australia