Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Mindfulness Training and Hypnotic Suggestion for Acute Pain Relief in the Hospital Setting.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a single session of mindfulness training could reduce acute pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to psychoeducation in hospitalized patients.
Results Summary
Mindfulness significantly reduced pain intensity (23% reduction) and unpleasantness compared to psychoeducation (9% reduction), and improved relaxation, pleasurable body sensations, and desire for opioids. All interventions reduced anxiety significantly.
Population
Adult inpatients reporting "intolerable pain" or "inadequate pain control" at a university-based hospital.
Effective Dosage
Single 15-minute session.
Duration
15 minutes (single session).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness training focused on acceptance of pain | decrease | acute pain intensity | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | 23% | significantly reduced | #1 |
hypnotic suggestion focused on changing pain sensations through imagery | decrease | acute pain intensity | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | 29% | significantly reduced | #2 |
psychoeducation pain coping control | decrease | acute pain intensity | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | 9% | reduced | #3 |
mind-body interventions | decrease | pain intensity post-intervention | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | significantly lower baseline-adjusted | #4 |
mind-body interventions | decrease | pain unpleasantness | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | lower baseline-adjusted | #5 |
mindfulness | increase | relaxation | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | differed significantly with regard to | #6 |
suggestion | increase | relaxation | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | differed significantly with regard to | #7 |
mindfulness | increase | pleasurable body sensations | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | differed significantly with regard to | #8 |
suggestion | increase | pleasurable body sensations | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | differed significantly with regard to | #9 |
mindfulness | decrease | desire for opioids | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | differed significantly with regard to | #10 |
suggestion | decrease | desire for opioids | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | differed significantly with regard to | #11 |
mindfulness | decrease | anxiety | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | significant reduction in | #12 |
suggestion | decrease | anxiety | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | significant reduction in | #13 |
psychoeducation | decrease | anxiety | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | significant reduction in | #14 |
brief, single-session mind-body interventions | increase | pain and related outcomes | adult inpatients reporting 'intolerable pain' or 'inadequate pain control' | - | led to clinically significant improvements in | #15 |
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.