Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Mindfulness Training and Hypnotic Suggestion for Acute Pain Relief in the Hospital Setting.
Eric L Garland, Anne Baker, Paula Larsen, Michael R. Riquino, Sarah E. Priddy, Elizabeth A. Thomas, Adam W. Hanley, Patricia Galbraith, Nathan Wanner, Yoshio Nakamura
Journal of General Internal Medicine July 12, 2017 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-017-4116-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Three-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 244 |
| Population | Adult hospital inpatients reporting intolerable pain or inadequate pain control |
| Interventions | Mindfulness training focused on acceptance of pain Hypnotic suggestion focused on changing pain sensations through imagery Psychoeducation pain coping control |
| Duration | Single 15-minute session |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Pain measurement Hypnosis Hospitalization Time factors Adult Middle aged Female Pain management Acute pain Analgesia Non-opioid therapy |
| Registration | NCT02590029 |
| Key findings | A single 15-minute session of mindfulness or hypnotic suggestion reduced baseline-adjusted pain intensity more than psychoeducation (23% and 29% reduction vs 9%, p<0.001) and also reduced pain unpleasantness. Groups differed in relaxation, pleasurable body sensations, and desire for opioids, and all three interventions reduced anxiety. The authors conclude brief mind-body interventions may be useful adjuncts to medical pain management. |
Abstract
Background: Medical management of acute pain among hospital inpatients may be enhanced by mind-body interventions.
Objective: We hypothesized that a single, scripted session of mindfulness training focused on acceptance of pain or hypnotic suggestion focused on changing pain sensations through imagery would significantly reduce acute pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to a psychoeducation pain coping control. We also hypothesized that mindfulness and suggestion would produce significant improvements in secondary outcomes including relaxation, pleasant body sensations, anxiety, and desire for opioids, compared to the control condition.
Methods: This three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted at a university-based hospital examined the acute effects of 15-min psychosocial interventions (mindfulness, hypnotic suggestion, psychoeducation) on adult inpatients reporting "intolerable pain" or "inadequate pain control." Participants (N = 244) were assigned to one of three intervention conditions: mindfulness (n = 86), suggestion (n = 73), or psychoeducation (n = 85). Key
Results: Participants in the mind-body interventions reported significantly lower baseline-adjusted pain intensity post-intervention than those assigned to psychoeducation (p < 0.001, percentage pain reduction: mindfulness = 23%, suggestion = 29%, education = 9%), and lower baseline-adjusted pain unpleasantness (p < 0.001). Intervention conditions differed significantly with regard to relaxation (p < 0.001), pleasurable body sensations (p = 0.001), and desire for opioids (p = 0.015), but all three interventions were associated with a significant reduction in anxiety (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Brief, single-session mind-body interventions delivered by hospital social workers led to clinically significant improvements in pain and related outcomes, suggesting that such interventions may be useful adjuncts to medical pain management.
Trial Registration: Trial Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov ; registration ID number: NCT02590029 URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02590029.
Citations in the library
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- Mindful breathing for cancer pain: efficacy of a single 20-minute session - a randomised controlled study. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care August 20, 2024
- EEG Signatures and Effects of Mindfulness Approaches in Adolescents With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury. Psychophysiology June 1, 2025
- No added benefit of VR and neurofeedback-enhanced VR for trait mindfulness in long-term mindfulness training Computers in Human Behavior Reports October 6, 2026
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Cites 6
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- Mindfulness Meditation-Based Pain Relief Employs Different Neural Mechanisms Than Placebo and Sham Mindfulness Meditation-Induced Analgesia. Journal of Neuroscience November 18, 2015
- State Mindfulness During Meditation Predicts Enhanced Cognitive Reappraisal. Mindfulness April 1, 2015
- Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement for chronic pain and prescription opioid misuse: results from an early-stage randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology February 3, 2014
- Brain mechanisms supporting the modulation of pain by mindfulness meditation. Journal of Neuroscience April 6, 2011
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