Efficacy of Self-Hypnosis in Pain Management in Female Patients with Multiple Sclerosis [L’efficacité de l’hypnose dans la gestion de la douleur chez des patientes atteintes de sclérose en plaques] [Effizienz von Selbsthypnose im Schmerzmanagement weiblicher Patienten mit Multipler Sklerose] [Eficacia de la autohipnosis para el manejo de dolor en pacientes mujeres con Esclerosis M?ltiple]

Abstract

Pain is common in patients with multiple sclerosis. This study evaluated self-hypnosis for pain control in that population. A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients, who were assigned to either a control group or to a self-hypnosis group, in which patients performed self-hypnosis at least 10 times a day. All patients were trained to score the perceived pain twice daily on a numerical rating scale and also reported the quality of pain with the McGill Pain questionnaire. Repeated-measures analysis showed a significant difference between the groups; pain was lower in the self-hypnosis group but was not maintained after 4 weeks. Self-hypnosis could effectively decrease the intensity and could modify quality of pain in female patients with multiple sclerosis. Copyright © International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.