Amputation Pain and Hypnosis

The use of hypnosis in the treatment of amputation pain is fascinating. Our understanding of the mediating processes hasrecently increased. It is common to differ between stump- and phantom pain, although for the patient there might not be a clear border of difference and an interaction between them is often part of the problem. Contemporary models of understanding are incorporating modulating of pain mechanisms at peripheral, spinal, and cortical levels. Novell research has also been able to demonstrate changes in common brain areas and pathways for the perception and interpretation of sensory signals and pain during hypnosis. Suggestions may alter specific aspects of pain demonstrated in changes of brain activity measured by advanced brain mapping techniques such as f-MRI and PET. Changes may be observed in terms of cortical body representation and activation of pain pathways, corresponding with the patient’s subjective experience. Neurons in the brain and functions of mirror- and spider neurons may contribute to our understanding. These topics are further elaborated and discussed in terms of models for understanding and using hypnosis in the treatment of amputation pain.