The purpose of this project was to test the efficacy of behavioral telemedicine interventions designed to teach self-regulation skills to chronic pain patients who had not previously been treated. The study sought to determine whether there were differences in outcome and consumer satisfaction with the pain management intervention when delivered by conventional face-to-face methods, by telephone only, and by closed circuit TV (CCTV). We found that self-regulation techniques can be readily taught via behavioral telemedicine interventions. The primary methodologic weakness of the study is that a single experienced clinician provided all of the interventions. Thus, it is not known at this time how well the intervention can be generalized to other clinicians. In addition, there was no control on the administration of the protocols across conditions.

Performance enhancement or mental practice is the "symbolic rehearsal of a physical activity without any gross muscular movements" to facilitate skill acquisition and to increase performance in the production of that physical activity. Performance-enhancement interventions have been well known in the area of sports psychology and medicine. However, clinical applications in physical medicine and rehabilitation have not flourished to the same extent, though the demand for improved physical performance and the acquisition of various motor skills are as important. In this paper I will describe how hypnosis can potentiate mental practice, present a model of mental practice to enhance performance, and describe how to help patients access an ideal performance state of consciousness.

The present study examined the facilitation of pain reduction through the use of a pain reduction protocol. The protocol emphasized converting pain sensations into visual and auditory representations, which then were manipulated through therapeutic suggestion. Hypnosis was not mentioned in the intervention, minimizing creation of expectancy effects related to hypnosis. At the conclusion of the study, the Stanford Clinical Hypnotic Scale was administered. Measures of relaxation and reduction of suffering were not related to hypnotizability. However, pain reduction was significantly related to hypnotizability (r = .55, P < .001). High hypnotizables had a greater reduction in pain than low hypnotizables, even though both had equivalent degrees of relaxation.

No abstract

No abstract