Effects of hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and education for chronic pain on substance use in veterans: A supplementary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.
Aaron P Turner, Karlyn A Edwards, Mark P Jensen, Dawn M Ehde, Melissa A Day, Rhonda M Williams
Rehabilitation psychology August 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1037/rep0000507 via PubMed
Summary
Mindfulness meditation and hypnosis, originally intended to treat chronic pain, also reduced daily cannabis use among U.S. military veterans. In a randomized trial with 328 Veterans at two VA medical centers, those receiving mindfulness meditation were 85% less likely to use cannabis daily at 3 months and 81% less likely at 6 months, compared to an active education control group. Hypnosis reduced daily cannabis use risk by 82% at 6 months. Neither intervention affected tobacco or alcohol use. Baseline substance use in the prior 3 months was 22% for tobacco, 27% for cannabis, and 61% for alcohol. The findings suggest these therapies may help reduce cannabis use even when that is not the treatment goal.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 328 |
| Population | Veterans with chronic pain receiving care at one of two Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in the northwest United States |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key finding | Mindfulness meditation reduced risk of daily cannabis use by 85% at 3 months and 81% at 6 months, and hypnosis reduced risk by 82% at 6 months, compared to an active education control, with no effect on tobacco or alcohol use. |
Abstract
To examine the impact of three behavioral interventions for chronic pain on substance use. 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. 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. 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).