Hypnotic analgesia: 1. somatosensory event-related potential changes to noxious stimuli and 2. transfer learning to reduce chronic low back pain

Fifteen adults with chronic low back pain (M = 4 years), age 18 to 43 years (M = 29 years), participated. All but one were moderately to highly hypnotizable (M = 7.87; modified 11-point Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C [Weitzenhoffer Melzack, 1993) and may be expanded in size and easily reactivated (Flor Melzack, 1991, 1993). Therefore, hypnosis and other psychological interventions need to be introduced early as adjuncts in medical treatments for onset pain before the development of chronic pain.