COping With PAin Through Hypnosis, Mindfulness and Spirituality

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the immediate effects of self-hypnosis, mindfulness meditation and a spiritual intervention relative to a control condition for increasing pain tolerance and reducing pain intensity and pain-related stress, in response to experimental painful stimulation.

Conditions

• Pain, Acute

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Self-Hypnosis (SH)

Participants assigned to this condition will listen to a 20-minute recording with instructions of SH adapted from one of our team member's proposed model. First, the audio recording will introduce and orient the participant to SH. Then instruction in SH will be provided, including: (a) how to self-induce a hypnotic induction; (b) specific self-suggestions for comfort and ability to manage intense sensations; and (c) post-hypnotic suggestions that the participant will be easily able to use these hypnotic strategies on their own at a later time (i.e., in this case, during the Cold Pressor Arm Wrap procedures that will follow). A second 5-minute audio recording with instructions to guide the participant in SH will be provided during the second cycle of Cold Pressor Arm Wrap (CPAW).

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness Meditation (MM)

Participants in the MM condition will listen to a 20-minutes recording with instructions in the use and application of Vipassana MM, adapted from the manual developed by one of our team members. First, the audio recording will focus on introducing the idea of attention to their breath, and of non-judgmental monitoring and acceptance of the all events and stimuli. Then a guided MM (body scan) experience will be provided. A second 5-minute audio recording with instructions to facilitate the MM (body scan) experience taught in the first audio recording will be provided during the second cycle of CPAW.

BEHAVIORAL

Christian Prayer (CP)

Participants in this condition will listen to a 20-minute recording with CP instructions. These instructions will be adapted from the existing on-line biblical meditations from the Society of Jesus (www.passo-a-rezar.net). First, the recording will introduce and orient the participant to CP. Then, a text of the Bible will be read twice, followed by a brief suggestion of prayer. A second 5-minute audio recording with instructions to facilitate the CP experience taught in the first audio recording, including the recording of a text of the Bible followed by a brief suggestion of meditation and relaxing music, will be provided during the second cycle of CPAW.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• ISPA - Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Psicologicas, Sociais e da Vida

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-09-30

Primary Completion

2021-09-30

Completion

2022-03-31

Countries

• Portugal

Study Locations