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Chronic Pain Skills Study - Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Chronic Pain Skills Study - Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03384953
Enrollment
103
Registered
2017-12-28
Start date
2017-06-22
Completion date
2020-03-13
Last updated
2020-04-21

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

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Brief summary

The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine (OCIM) at Vanderbilt is a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic treating patients with chronic pain and complex health issues via integrative services, with goals of improving overall health and wellbeing of those served. At OCIM, clinical hypnosis has been historically provided on an individual basis by the investigator. Due to its impact and increased patient demand for this service, the investigator will be conducting group hypnosis services in addition to individual services order to expand the reach of this program to participants. As such, the investigators see this as a tremendous opportunity to contribute to clinical research to contribute to the evidence based for this form of service by examining participant-reported outcomes associated with completing the treatment. For this project, the investigators seek to assess the impact of a manualized group treatment protocol utilizing clinical hypnosis as a treatment for chronic pain. The investigators will be evaluating participant-reported outcomes to assess the feasibility of conducting hypnosis in this setting, impact of group hypnosis on pain and how participants' responsiveness to hypnosis impacts treatment outcome.

Detailed description

The purpose of this pilot project is to test the efficacy and mechanisms of clinical hypnosis on chronic pain. Primary (characteristic pain intensity) and secondary (mood, quality of life) outcomes will be assessed at pre-treatment, three times during treatment, post-treatment, and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Potential treatment moderators and mediators will also be assessed. The study will address two aims: Aim 1: Determine the efficacy of 8 sessions of group delivered HYP training for reducing characteristic pain intensity in patients. The hypothesis associated with Aim 1 is: Hypothesis 1: Primary Study Hypothesis. Patients receiving 8 sessions of HYP training will report significantly reduced pre- to post-treatment decreases in average pain intensity. Aim 2 : To evaluate potential moderators (hypnotizability) associated with treatment outcomes following intervention. The hypothesis associated with Aim 2 is: Hypothesis 2a: Hypnotizability will augment treatment outcomes such that those with higher hypnotizability will experience significantly greater treatment gains. In addition to testing the above specific hypotheses, we will use the data obtained in this study to further explore (1) the longer-term (up to 6 months) effects of HYP and (2) additional potential moderators (e.g., treatment outcome expectancies, treatment motivation, demographic variables, pain type \[neuropathic vs. nociceptive\]) and mediators (pain acceptance, catastrophizing, mindfulness, therapeutic alliance, amount of skill practice between sessions) of treatment outcome.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALClinical Hypnosis - Group Treatment

group treatment

BEHAVIORALClinical Hypnosis - Individual Treatment

individual treatment

Sponsors

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. 18 years of age or older; \* 2. Self-reported presence of chronic pain;\*\* 3. Average pain intensity rating of ≥ 3 on a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of pain intensity in the last week; \*\* 4. Worst pain intensity rating of ≥ 5 on a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of pain intensity in the last week;\*\* 5. Duration of chronic pain 3 months or more; \*\* 6. Experiences pain at least 75% of the time in the past 3 months; Those who have a hard time answering this question will be asked the following question: Which statement best describes your pain? 1. Pain all the time, but the pain intensity varies; 2. Pain most of the time with only occasional periods of being pain-free; 3. Pain that comes and goes; 4. Occasional pain; Participants must report experiencing pain that matches one of the first two options;\*\* 7. Able to read, speak, and understand English.\*\*

Exclusion criteria

1. Cognitive impairment or limitations (i.e. history of moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), unresolved TBI, or other medical condition) that would interfere with a patient's ability to participate in a group involving focused attention\*. 2. Current or history of diagnosis of primary psychotic or major thought disorder as listed in participant's medical record or self-reported within the past five years;\* 3. Hospitalization for psychiatric reasons other than suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, and/or PTSD self-reported or noted in chart (within the past 5 years);\* 4. Psychiatric or behavioral conditions in which symptoms are unstable or severe (e.g. current delirium, mania, psychosis, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, substance abuse dependency) as listed in participant's medical record or self-reported within the past six months;\* 5. Any behavioral issues as noted in the medical record or by a provider that would indicate the participant may be inappropriate in a group setting;\*\*\* 6. Presenting symptoms at time of screening that would interfere with participation, specifically active suicidal ideation with intent to harm oneself or active delusional or psychotic thinking;\*\* 7. Difficulties or limitations communicating over the telephone;\*\* 8. Any planned life events that would interfere with participating in the key elements of the study.\*\* 9. Reported average daily use of \>120mg morphine equivalent dose (MED). \*\* * also verified via medical record review, as described below. \*\*verified solely via self-report, as described below; there is no medical record

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Pain Intensitybaseline and 6 monthsBrief Pain Inventory (severity scale only) is a 4-item subscale of the Brief Pain Inventory assessing the severity of pain over the past week. Questions inquire into an individual's worst, least, average, and current levels of pain on an 11-point likert scale, with 0 being no pain. It has been validated and is considered the gold standard to utilize in patient-reported outcomes studies. It takes \<1 minute to complete.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Clinical Hypnosis - Group Treatment
Subjects will receive 8 weeks of a manualized clinical hypnosis for chronic pain treatment in a group setting. Assessments will be completed before, immediately after, and at 3- and 6- months post-treatment to assess for treatment gains. Clinical Hypnosis - Group Treatment: group treatment
91
Clinical Hypnosis - Individual Treatment
Subjects will receive 8 weeks of a manualized clinical hypnosis for chronic pain treatment in an individual, 1:1 setting. Assessments will be completed before, immediately after, and at 3- and 6- months post-treatment to assess for treatment gains. Clinical Hypnosis - Individual Treatment: individual treatment
12
Total103

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicClinical Hypnosis - Group TreatmentClinical Hypnosis - Individual TreatmentTotal
Age, Continuous51.196 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.894
44.833 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.402
50.462 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.925
Brief Pain Inventory5.472 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.736
6.125 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.721
5.549 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.739
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
3 Participants0 Participants3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
4 Participants1 Participants5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
8 Participants0 Participants8 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
75 Participants10 Participants85 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
91 participants12 participants103 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
65 Participants9 Participants74 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
26 Participants3 Participants29 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 910 / 12
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 910 / 12
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 910 / 12

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Pain Intensity

Brief Pain Inventory (severity scale only) is a 4-item subscale of the Brief Pain Inventory assessing the severity of pain over the past week. Questions inquire into an individual's worst, least, average, and current levels of pain on an 11-point likert scale, with 0 being no pain. It has been validated and is considered the gold standard to utilize in patient-reported outcomes studies. It takes \<1 minute to complete.

Time frame: baseline and 6 months

Population: Patients who completed 6-month post-treatment follow-up

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Clinical Hypnosis - Group TreatmentChange in Pain Intensity4.42 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.173
Clinical Hypnosis - Individual TreatmentChange in Pain Intensity6.625 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.422

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