Telehealth Hypnotic Cognitive Therapy Reduces Chronic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury

Chronic pain is a nearly universal complication following spinal cord injury, affecting approximately 80% of patients and significantly limiting functional recovery [1, 2]. Central neuropathic pain, which arises from direct damage to the somatosensory nervous system, is particularly prevalent and often refractory to standard care [3]. While clinicians frequently prescribe anticonvulsants or antidepressants, these pharmacological interventions often provide inadequate relief and may be complicated by comorbid depression or cognitive deficits [1, 4]. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend multimodal, non-pharmacological approaches, yet many behavioral and stimulation-based therapies lack standardized protocols or remain inaccessible to patients with significant mobility impairments [5, 6, 2]. To address this gap, a recent randomized controlled trial examined the utility of hypnotic cognitive therapy, a psychological intervention combining cognitive restructuring with hypnotic suggestions for pain modulation, delivered through remote telehealth platforms [7].