Self-Management Interventions for Chronic Pain Relief With Cancer Survivors

Cancer survivors who suffer from chronic pain would benefit from a low-cost, self-management intervention they can use at home. This study will evaluate the efficacy of a recorded hypnosis intervention in reducing chronic pain among cancer survivors and will explore its biological and psychological mechanisms.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate if a 4-week recorded hypnosis intervention (RHI) works for reducing chronic pain in 100 adult cancer survivors who have completed active treatment. The RHI will be compared to an attention control condition (relaxation recording). qEEG measurement will be obtained while listening to the RHI at weeks 0, 2, and 4 to explore if brain states are related to hypnotic analgesia during the 4-week study period in 20 study participants. The study has the following specific aims: Aim 1: Does the RHI work? Evaluate the efficacy of RHI in reducing self-reported pain intensity (primary outcome), pain interference, anxiety, depression, fatigue and sleep disturbance (secondary outcomes) at 4 weeks compared to the attention control condition (relaxation recording). Hypothesis: RHI will significantly reduce pain intensity, pain interference, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance at 4 weeks. Aim 2: For whom does the RHI work? Examine if psychological factors (hypnotic suggestibility, mental absorption, treatment outcome expectancy, fear of cancer recurrence, resilience, self-efficacy) influence the relationship between RHI and pain intensity at weeks 0, 2, and 4. Aim 3: How does the RHI work? a. Compare brain activity as measured by electroencephalogram (EEG) in cancer survivors with chronic pain (n=30) receiving the RHI relative to the attention control condition (relaxation recording) at weeks 0, 2, and 4. b. Explore the effects of brain activity on pain intensity at weeks 0, 2, and 4. In addition, structured interviews will be conducted with participants to understand facilitators and barriers associated with undergoing EEG at three time points and perceptions on how the intervention works to reduce pain.