Researchers tested whether a remote therapy combining hypnosis and cognitive techniques could help adults with spinal cord injury manage their chronic pain. The study involved 127 people living in their communities who had moderate-to-severe pain for many years. They received either six weekly therapy sessions by phone or video call, plus daily self-hypnosis practice, or continued with their usual care.
After six weeks, people who received the hypnotic therapy reported slightly less pain than those who continued with usual care. The pain relief was still present at the 12-week follow-up. The therapy also appeared to help with depression symptoms.
The study did not report any safety concerns, but it's important to note that the pain reduction was modest—about half a point to three-quarters of a point on a 10-point pain scale. This was a relatively small study classified as providing preliminary evidence. Readers should understand that while these results are promising, more research is needed before this approach becomes a standard treatment option.
