Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02638753

Efficacy of Education on Neurophysiology of Pain Combined to Hypnosis in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Although education on neurophysiology of pain improves disability, there are limited effects in pain intensity. Hypnosis is an approach that has proven useful in pain intensity and psychosocial aspects in some chronic pain conditions, but there is insufficient evidence of its contribution in patients with chronic non specific low back pain. The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of combining education on neurophysiology of pain and hypnosis in patients with chronic non specific low back pain in pain and disability outcomes.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universidade Cidade de Sao Paulo

São Paulo, Brazil

About this study

Introduction: Education on pain neurophysiology has beneficial effects on disability and psychosocial aspects in patients with non specific chronic low back pain. However, education has limited effects in pain. Hypnosis is an approach that has proven efficient in pain intensity and psychosocial aspects in some chronic pain conditions, but there is insufficient evidence of its contribution in patients with non specific chronic low back pain.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of combining education on neurophysiology of pain and hypnosis in patients with non specific chronic low back pain in pain and disability outcomes.

Study design: randomized controlled trial with two arms and blinded evaluator. Local study: Interventions will be held at the Universidade Cidade de Sao Paulo (UNICID).

Participants: One hundred patients with chronic non specific low back pain who are on the waiting list for physical therapy care at UNICID physical therapy clinic, interested and eligible for the study will be invited to participate.

Intervention: Patients will be randomized to the education group about pain neurophysiology or to a group that combines education with hypnosis.

Measurements: Clinical outcomes will be obtained after 2 weeks and 3 months after randomization. The primary outcome will be pain intensity (measured by the numerical pain scale) and general disability (measured by the Roland-Morris questionnaire). The secondary outcome will be catastrophic thoughts (measured by PCS-Brazil), specific disability (measured by the Patient-specific function scale) and global perceived effect (measured by the Global Perceived Effect scale).

Limitations: Both the therapist and the patients will not be blinded to the intervention provided.

Hypothesis: This is the first study that will provided results achieved by education about pain neurophysiology using hypnosis in patients with chronic non specific low back pain.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with non specific chronic low back pain, defined as pain or discomfort between the coastal margins and lower gluteal folds, with or without symptoms related to lower limbs for at least three months, of both genders, aged between 18 and 80 years and literate in Portuguese.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with back pain by nerve root compromise, serious spinal pathologies (such as fracture, tumor, inflammatory and infectious diseases), cardio-respiratory and uncompensated metabolic diseases, previous back surgery , pregnancy, presence of some contraindications to exercise, and have a hearing or understanding problem that prevents the understanding of simple information.

Treatment and study plan

Education

Other

Patients will be educated about pain neurophysiology.

education combined with hypnosis

Other

Patients will be educated about pain neurophysiology combined with hypnosis.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Numerical Rating Scale

    Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization

    It is a translated and adapted scale for the Portuguese language that assesses pain intensity levels perceived by patients through a 11-point scale (ranging from 0 to 10), with 0 being classified as "no pain" and 10 "worst pain possible ". Patients will be asked to mark the level of the average pain intensity and the more intense based on the last seven days.

  2. Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire

    Time frame: 2 weeks after randomization

    This questionnaire consists of 24 items describing everyday situations that patients may have difficulty in performing because of back pain. The greater the number of alternatives completed affirmatively, the greater the level of disability associated with lombar pain. Patients will be instructed to fill out the statements that actually describe their situation on the day of the interview. It's tool was already translated and adapted for the Portuguese language.

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    Time frame: 2 weeks and 3 months after randomization

    PCS is used to assess negative thoughts related to dor54. It is a self-administered questionnaire with 13 items and 3 subscales: impotence, magnification and rumination. A 5-point scale is used for each item. The score of each item is summed to define each subscale score or total score which may range from 0 to 52 points. It's tool was already translated and adapted for the Portuguese language.

  2. The Patient-Specific Functional Scale

    Time frame: 2 weeks and 3 months after randomization

    We asked for the patient to identify up to 3 activities that are considered incapable of performing or presenting any difficulty. The measurement is made by Likert scale of 11 points for each activity, and the higher average score (ranging from 0 to 10 points) better is the patient's ability to make activity. It's tool was already translated and adapted for the Portuguese language.

  3. Global Perceived Effect Scale

    Time frame: 2 weeks and 3 months after randomization

    It is a Likert scale of 11 points (ranging from -5 to +5) which compares the current state of the patient as the start of their symptoms. Positive scores are applied to patients who are better and negative scores apply to those who are worse off compared to the beginning of symptoms. The closer to the 5 means that the greater is the intensity perception. It's tool was already translated and adapted for the Portuguese language.

  4. Pain Numerical Rating Scale

    Time frame: 3 months after randomization

    It is a translated and adapted scale for the Portuguese language that assesses pain intensity levels perceived by patients through a 11-point scale (ranging from 0 to 10), with 0 being classified as "no pain" and 10 "worst pain possible ". Patients will be asked to mark the level of the average pain intensity and the more intense based on the last seven days.

  5. Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire

    Time frame: 3 months after randomization

    This questionnaire consists of 24 items describing everyday situations that patients may have difficulty in performing because of back pain. The greater the number of alternatives completed affirmatively, the greater the level of disability associated with lombar pain. Patients will be instructed to fill out the statements that actually describe their situation on the day of the interview. It's tool was already translated and adapted for the Portuguese language.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidade Cidade de Sao Paulo

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Dec 23, 2015
Registry last updated
Aug 4, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.