Hypnosis for reduction of background pain and pain anxiety in men with burns: A blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled study

Introduction: ‘Background pain’ and ‘pain anxiety’ are among the numerous problems of
patients with burns. Non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions have been
used to reduce background pain and pain anxiety. This study compared the effectiveness of
hypnosis and ‘neutral hypnosis’ (as a placebo in the control group) in decreasing the
background burn pain and pain anxiety of adult male survivors with burns.
Design: This is a blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled study.
Methods: Sixty men with burns were included in the minimisation method (30 individuals in
the intervention group and 30 individuals in the control group). Four hypnotherapy sessions
were performed every other day for each participant in the intervention group. Four neutral
hypnosis sessions were performed every other day in the control group. Burn pain and pain
anxiety of the patients in both groups were measured at the end of the second and fourth
sessions. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for data analysis.
Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in the reduction in
background pain intensity. There was a significant reduction in background pain quality and
pain anxiety in the intervention group during the four hypnosis sessions. After two
hypnotherapy sessions, a significant reduction was observed in the level of background pain
quality and pain anxiety of participants.
Conclusion: Hypnosis is effective in reducing background pain quality and pain anxiety of men
with burns.