USE OF NEUROFEEDBACK AND MINDFULNESS TO ENHANCE RESPONSE TO HYPNOSIS TREATMENT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: Results From a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.
Mark P Jensen, Samuel L Battalio, Joy F Chan, Karlyn A Edwards, Melissa A Day, Leslie H Sherlin, Dawn M Ehde
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 2018 DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2018.1460546 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Individuals with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain, fatigue, or both |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Neurofeedback training Self-hypnosis training |
| Duration | 5 sessions of self-hypnosis training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | The authors report that both mindfulness meditation and neurofeedback training showed potential to enhance response to self-hypnosis treatment, consistent with the hypothesis that interventions increasing slower brain oscillations may improve hypnotic responding. They call for larger studies to test generalizability. |
Abstract
This pilot study evaluated the possibility that 2 interventions hypothesized to increase slower brain oscillations (e.g., theta) may enhance the efficacy of hypnosis treatment, given evidence that hypnotic responding is associated with slower brain oscillations. Thirty-two individuals with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain, fatigue, or both, were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 interventions thought to increase slow wave activity (mindfulness meditation or neurofeedback training) or no enhancing intervention, and then given 5 sessions of self-hypnosis training targeting their presenting symptoms. The findings supported the potential for both neurofeedback and mindfulness to enhance response to hypnosis treatment. Research using larger sample sizes to determine the generalizability of these findings is warranted.
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
Cited by 4
- Recent Insight on How the Neuroscientific Approach Helps Clinicians OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine May 9, 2020
- Hypnosis and mindfulness audio recordings for reducing fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled study. Multiple Sclerosis Journal June 1, 2025
- Neural Correlates of Hypnosis: Insights from EEG-Based Machine Learning Models Research Square July 21, 2023
- Comparing focused attention meditation to meditation with mobile neurofeedback for persistent symptoms after mild-moderate traumatic brain injury: a pilot study Brain Injury August 12, 2020
Cites 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- EEG Derived Neuronal Dynamics during Meditation: Progress and Challenges Advances in Preventive Medicine 2015
- Neuromodulatory treatments for chronic pain: efficacy and mechanisms. Nature Reviews Neurology March 2014
- The role of mindfulness in a contextual cognitive-behavioral analysis of chronic pain-related suffering and disability. Pain September 2007
and 1 more in the library