The cold pressor pain paradigm in children: feasibility of an intervention model (part II)

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of testing a psychological approach (hypnosis) to pain reduction in children using the cold pressor paradigm. Children's pain ratings at 10 sec intervals and duration of arm immersion (40 sec maximum) in 15 °C (n = 37) and 12 °C water (n = 29) were assessed in 6–12-year-old children during 2 baseline trials (alternating arms), followed by 2 more trials after randomization to a control or hypnosis treatment condition. Hypnosis was found to reduce pain significantly more than the control condition in both 15 °C and 12 °C water. Hypnotic susceptibility was not strongly related to hypnotic pain reduction. However, age was significant, with younger children showing higher pain ratings and early arm withdrawal rates and less response to hypnosis than older children. In 15 °C water, females had higher pain ratings and early withdrawal rates than males, but this sex discrepancy disappeared in 12 °C water. This study demonstrated the feasibility of the cold pressor paradigm for testing intervention strategies and its potential for enhancing our understanding of pain in children.