Neurophysiological processes underlying the phantom limb pain experience and the use of hypnosis in its clinical management: An intensive examination of two patients

Abstract

In a pilot study with 2 patients suffering from phantom limb pain (PLP), hypnotic suggestions were used to modify and control the experience of the phantom limb, and positron emission tomography (PET) was used to index underlying pathways and areas involved in the processing of phantom limb experience (PLE) and PLP. The patients' subjective experiences of pain were recorded in a semistructured protocol. PET results demonstrated activation in areas known to be responsible for sensory and motor processing. The reported subjective experiences of PLP and movement corresponded with predicted brain activity patterns. This work helps to clarify the central nervous system correlates of phantom limb sensations, including pain. It further suggests that hypnosis can be incorporated into treatment protocols for PLP.