Effects of Hypnosis on Skin Temperature

Hypnotic Glove Anesthesia: Effects of Hypnosis on Skin Temperature Measured by Infrared Thermography

Hypnotic glove anesthesia is a hypnosis technique wherein the patient, following the suggestions of the hypnotherapist, is mentally capable to create a loss of sensation in areas of the hand that would be covered by a glove. We investigated the effects of hypnotic glove anesthesia on skin temperature measured by thermography.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Volunteers; Hypnosis

Detailed Description

After 20 min installation and temperature equilibration (T0), the subject skin temperature was recorded in 5 regions of both hands (1 = distal hand, 2 = proximal hand, 3 = wrist, 4 = distal forearm, 5 = proximal forearm) using infrared thermography.

After 10 min of latency, skin temperature was recorded again in both hands (T1).

A first noxious stimulus (NOX1) is then applied by the hypnotherapist by pinching the webbing between the thumb and index fingers of the dominant hand between the thumb and the index. Pain intensity is assessed on a 0-10 (0 = no pain, 10 = maximal pain imaginable) numerical rating scale (NRS1).

The hypnotic glove is then mentally created by the subject on his dominant hand following the suggestions of the hypnotherapist (T2). To assess the efficacy of the hypnotic glove, a second noxious stimulus (NOX2) is applied similarly to NOX1 and the NRS was recorded (NRS2).

The subject is then invited to mentally wear off the glove (T3). Skin temperature is then recorded in both hands, and a third noxious stimulus (NOX3) is applied similarly to NOX1 and NOX2 to verify the disappearance of hypnotic anesthesia.

A last record of skin temperature in both hands is performed 5 min after the glove is withdrawn (T4).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 30

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Rennes, France, 35000
    • Institut Emergences
  • Saint-Grégoire, France, 35768
    • Centre Hospitalier Prive Saint-Gregoire
  • Soyaux, France, 16800
    • Centre Clinical

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy volunteers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers aged from 18 to 75

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurologic or psychiatric disorder
• Upper limb amputation
• Microcirculation abnormalities (e.g. Raynaud syndrome)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in skin temperature during the experiment in the hand and forearm	Comparison of skin temperature between the dominant ("wearing" the hypnotic glove) and the non-dominant hand and forearm in the 5 predefined regions from Time 0 to Time 4.	During the study experiment, from the beginning of the experiment, after 20 min installation and temperature equilibration, to the end of the experiment, 5 min after the glove is mentally withdrawn (approximately 1 h).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in pain intensity during the experiment following noxious stimulation	Comparison of pain intensity following noxious stimulation assessed by 0-10 NRS scale at Time 1, Time 2 and Time 3 in the dominant hand ("wearing" the hypnotic glove).	During the study experiment, from 10 min after the beginning of the experiment to 5 min before the end of the experiment, when the glove is mentally withdrawn (approximately 45 min).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Claude Bernard University
• Collaborators: Centre Clinical, France; Saint-Gregoire Private Hospital Center; Institut Émergences, France
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Xavier Paqueron, MD, PhD, Centre Clinical, France

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 15, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 22, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): November 23, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 21, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 18, 2017
• Last Verified: July 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Hypnosis; Anesthesia; Thermography; Suggestion
• Other Study ID Numbers: Hypnotic glove anesthesia

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No