title: Experimental pain ratings and reactivity of cortisol and soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II following a trial of hypnosis: results of a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current evidence supports the efficacy of hypnosis for reducing the pain associated with experimental stimulation and various acute and chronic conditions; however, the mechanisms explaining how hypnosis exerts its effects remain less clear. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and pro-inflammatory cytokines represent potential targets for investigation given their purported roles in the perpetuation of painful conditions; yet, no clinical trials have thus far examined the influence of hypnosis on these mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy participants, highly susceptible to the effects of hypnosis, were randomized to either a hypnosis intervention or a no-intervention control. Using a cold pressor task, assessments of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness were collected prior to the intervention (Pre) and following the intervention (Post) along with pain-provoked changes in salivary cortisol and the soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II (sTNFαRII).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the no-intervention control, data analyses revealed that hypnosis significantly reduced pain intensity and pain unpleasantness. Hypnosis was not significantly associated with suppression of cortisol or sTNFαRII reactivity to acute pain from Pre to Post; however, the effect sizes for these associations were medium-sized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the findings from this randomized controlled pilot study support the importance of a future large-scale study on the effects of hypnosis for modulating pain-related changes of the HPA axis and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Comprehensive Center for Pain Research, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. bgoodin1@ufl.edu
authors.forename: Burel R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Goodin
authors.forename: Noel B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kronfli
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Gayle G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Haythornthwaite
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.forename: Lynanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D006854:Hydrocortisone