Effects of Hypnosis Therapy on Pain and Opioid Use Following Shoulder Replacement Surgery: A Clinical Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic hypnosis as an alternative to or adjunct treatment with opioid medications for post-operative pain management following shoulder replacement surgery. A prior pilot study assessed the feasibility of a clinical trial by comparing standard care and hypnosis therapy groups, finding moderate reductions in pain and opioid consumption in the therapeutic hypnosis group. The design of the current trial was informed by findings from the pilot study. Participants in the therapeutic hypnosis group were given access to a video with therapeutic hypnosis narration, while the control group viewed the video without narration. Pain intensity (primary outcome) was assessed at baseline, at the preoperative visit, as well as 10 and 49 days post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, pain medication use, and sleep disruption. Despite initial positive results from the pilot, the current trial revealed no significant differences between the treatment groups across all measures. Further research should consider alternative control conditions and examine outcomes in the immediate post-surgical period to better capture potential effects.