Effects of hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and education for chronic pain on substance use in veterans: A supplementary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

Rehabil Psychol. 2023 Aug;68(3):261-270. doi: 10.1037/rep0000507. Epub 2023 Jun 8.

Abstract

Purpose/objective: To examine the impact of three behavioral interventions for chronic pain on substance use.

Research method/design: Participants were 328 Veterans with chronic pain receiving care at one of two Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in the northwest United States. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three 8-week manualized in-person group treatments: (a) hypnosis (HYP), (b) mindfulness meditation (MM), or (c) active education control (ED). Substance use frequency was assessed using 10 individual items from the WHO-ASSIST, administered at baseline prior to randomization and at 3- and 6-month posttreatment.

Results: Baseline substance use (i.e., any use) in the past 3 months was reported by 22% (tobacco), 27% (cannabis), and 61% (alcohol) of participants. Use of all other substances assessed was reported by < 7% of participants. Results showed that MM, as compared to ED, significantly reduced risk of daily cannabis use by 85% and 81% at the 3- and 6-month posttreatment follow-ups, respectively, after adjusting for baseline use. HYP, as compared to ED, significantly reduced risk of daily cannabis use by 82% at the 6-month posttreatment follow-up after adjusting for baseline use. There was no intervention effect on tobacco or alcohol use at either posttreatment follow-up.

Conclusions/implications: HYP and MM for chronic pain may facilitate reductions in cannabis use, even when reducing such use is not a focus of treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02653664.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Pain* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypnosis*
  • Meditation*
  • Mindfulness*
  • Substance-Related Disorders* / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Veterans*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02653664