Mindfulness and self-hypnosis to ease chronic pain in older adults
Mechanisms of Mindfulness Meditation and Self-Hypnosis for Pain in Older Adults with Chronic Pain
This project compares mindfulness meditation and self-hypnosis to help reduce chronic pain in people aged 60 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11197593 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to learn mindfulness meditation or self-hypnosis through a structured program and attend sessions over several weeks. The study uses safe experimental pain tests and brain imaging (fMRI) plus EEG to measure how your nervous system and brain respond before and after the training. Researchers will compare changes in your pain reports and brain signals to understand how each technique changes pain processing. The team will also look at patient characteristics that might predict who benefits most from each approach.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 60 years or older who have ongoing chronic pain and can attend in-person visits at the study site are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with only short-term (acute) pain, major cognitive impairment, or medical implants/conditions that prevent MRI may not benefit or qualify for participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these mind-body approaches could reduce chronic pain and help decrease reliance on opioid medications for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown mindfulness and self-hypnosis can lower pain and change brain activity, but their specific effects and mechanisms in older adults are not yet fully established.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jensen, Mark P — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Jensen, Mark P
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.