A Brief Laboratory-Based Hypnosis Session for Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02620488

Enrollment

Registered

2015-12-03

Start date

2015-09-30

Completion date

2015-12-31

Last updated

2017-05-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sickle Cell Disease

Keywords

Pain Perception, Autonomic Nervous System, Sickle Cell Disease, Hypnosis, Guided Imagery

Brief summary

This pilot study will assess the effects of a brief laboratory-based guided imagery procedure on responses to pain in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and healthy controls.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALGuided Imagery

Brief guided imagery session with a trained clinician focused on relaxation and pleasant imagery.

Study design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

13 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Healthy control or with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease 2. Age 13 or older 3. African-American 4. Subject is able to provide informed signed consent 5. Subject is able to follow instructions

Exclusion criteria

1. Any known acute or chronic illness that in the judgment of the investigator, may compromise subject safety or data integrity 2. Neurologic disorders affecting sensation 3. Skin abnormality/abrasion over sites of stimulus 4. Under 13 years of age 5. Unable to follow instructions

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Change in heart rate variability (HRV) before, during, and after hypnosis	Beginning 15 minutes prior to hypnosis session, continuing during 15 minutes of hypnosis, Ending 15 minutes after the hypnosis session
Change in galvanic skin response (GSR) before, during, and after hypnosis	Beginning 15 minutes prior to hypnosis session, continuing during 15 minutes of hypnosis, Ending 15 minutes after the hypnosis session
Change in overall respiration rate and rate of deep breathing (sighs) before, during, and after hypnosis	Beginning 15 minutes prior to hypnosis session, continuing during 15 minutes of hypnosis, Ending 15 minutes after the hypnosis session
Change in peripheral blood flow (pulse oximetry) before, during, and after hypnosis	Beginning 15 minutes prior to hypnosis session, continuing during 15 minutes of hypnosis, Ending 15 minutes after the hypnosis session

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Change in pain tolerance temperature	9 minutes before beginning of hypnosis session and 4 minutes after end of hypnosis session
Change in heat pulse pain ratings	5 minutes before beginning of hypnosis session and 7 minutes after end of hypnosis session
Change in pain threshold temperature	12 minutes before beginning of hypnosis session and 1 minute after end of hypnosis session

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026