The Effect of Hypnotic Suggestion After Acquired Brain Injury or Concussion

Summary

A recent randomized clinical trial (RCT) demonstrated large effects of hypnotic suggestion on working memory following acquired brain injury. However, no studies have investigated long-term effects (\> 2 months) effects on return to work (RTW).

Therefore the aim is in a RCT to study the effect of hypnotic suggestion on RTW in employed individuals with acquired brain injury or concussion, that were referred to an out-patient municipal vocational rehabilitation center in Denmark.

Participants were randomized to a passive (treatment as usual), active comparison (a weekly treatment session of mindfullness-based stress reduction for four weeks) or intervention group (a weekly treatment session of targeted suggestion for four weeks).

Intention-to-treat analysis of the hypnosis effect on return to work within six months follow-up will be performed.

Results Participants (N=77) have accepted and participated in the study. Effect measures are to be analysed.

Conditions

• Acquired Brain Injury
• Concussion, Brain

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Hypnosis

A number of steps are taken to make the treatment arms identical in all other respects. The participants are unaware that there are two treatment arms to homogenize expectations. Each session is a manualized hypnosis script which is dictated by the hypnotist, including the hypnosis test. The only degrees of freedom for the hypnotist is in intonation and speed. Identical induction and termination is used in both arms and the scripts are of comparable durations.

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness-based stress reduction

A number of steps are taken to make the treatment arms identical in all other respects. The participants are unaware that there are two treatment arms to homogenize expectations. Each session is a manualized hypnosis script which is dictated by the hypnotist, including the hypnosis test. The only degrees of freedom for the hypnotist is in intonation and speed. Identical induction and termination is used in both arms and the scripts are of comparable durations.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Defactum, Central Denmark Region

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Aalborg University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jonas K Lindeløv · Department for Communication and Psychology, Aalborg University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

62 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-05-11

Primary Completion

2020-11-06

Completion

2021-10-29

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations