Effects of hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and education for chronic pain on substance use in veterans: A supplementary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.
Aaron P Turner, Karlyn A Edwards, Mark P Jensen, Dawn M Ehde, Melissa A Day, Rhonda M Williams
Rehabilitation psychology August 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1037/rep0000507 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 328 |
| Population | Veterans with chronic pain receiving care at one of two Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in the northwest United States |
| Interventions | Hypnosis Mindfulness meditation Active education control |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 3- and 6-month posttreatment follow-ups |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation reduced risk of daily cannabis use by 85% at 3 months and 81% at 6 months, and hypnosis reduced risk by 82% at 6 months, compared to an active education control, with no effect on tobacco or alcohol use. |
Abstract
To examine the impact of three behavioral interventions for chronic pain on substance use. Participants were 328 Veterans with chronic pain receiving care at one of two Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in the northwest United States. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three 8-week manualized in-person group treatments: (a) hypnosis (HYP), (b) mindfulness meditation (MM), or (c) active education control (ED). Substance use frequency was assessed using 10 individual items from the WHO-ASSIST, administered at baseline prior to randomization and at 3- and 6-month posttreatment. Baseline substance use (i.e., any use) in the past 3 months was reported by 22% (tobacco), 27% (cannabis), and 61% (alcohol) of participants. Use of all other substances assessed was reported by < 7% of participants. Results showed that MM, as compared to ED, significantly reduced risk of daily cannabis use by 85% and 81% at the 3- and 6-month posttreatment follow-ups, respectively, after adjusting for baseline use. HYP, as compared to ED, significantly reduced risk of daily cannabis use by 82% at the 6-month posttreatment follow-up after adjusting for baseline use. There was no intervention effect on tobacco or alcohol use at either posttreatment follow-up. HYP and MM for chronic pain may facilitate reductions in cannabis use, even when reducing such use is not a focus of treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences June 1, 2016
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of current depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis Cognitive Behaviour Therapy February 8, 2019
- Effects of Hypnosis vs Mindfulness Meditation vs Education on Chronic Pain Intensity and Secondary Outcomes in Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial Pain January 25, 2022
- Toward a theoretical model for mindfulness-based pain management. Journal of Pain July 2014
- Craving to quit: psychological models and neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness training as treatment for addictions. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors May 28, 2012
and 1 more in the library