​​​​​​An Overview of the Science of Clinical Hypnosis

Uncovering the new science of clinical hypnosis.  www.apa.org/monitor/2024/04/science-of-hypnosis

Summary:  With decades of data and new research supporting its effectiveness, practitioners are embracing hypnosis to treat certain conditions. David Godot, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in Long Beach, California, and president of APA’s Division 30 (Society of Psychological Hypnosis) states: “Over the past few decades, there have been tremendous advances in understanding hypnosis and its benefit for research and practice.”

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Burnout and Stress

Boselli, E., Cuna, J., Bernard, F., Delaunay, L., & Virot, C. (2021). Effects of a training program in medical hypnosis on burnout in anesthesiologists and other healthcare providers: A survey study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 44, 101431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101431

Results: This study shows that healthcare providers who participated in a medical hypnosis training program presented improvements in the three dimensions of burnout. Further study is required to investigate and recommend this type of continuous medical education to improve professional satisfaction and wellbeing in healthcare providers.

 

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Fisch, S., Trivaković-Thiel, S., Roll, S., Keller, T., Binting, S., Cree, M., Brinkhaus, B., & Teut, M. (2020). Group hypnosis for stress reduction and improved stress coping: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20(1), 344. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03129-6

Results: The aim of the trial was to investigate the effect of a hypnotherapeutic group program in healthy persons with increased levels of perceived stress. Compared to the control group, the hypnosis group showed reduced perceived stress after 5 and 12 weeks.

 

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Hot Flashes

Elkins, G. R., Fisher, W. I., Johnson, A. K., Carpenter, J. S., & Keith, T. Z. (2013). Clinical hypnosis in the treatment of postmenopausal hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial. Menopause, 20(3), 291–298. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e31826ce3ed

Conclusions: Compared with structured-attention control, clinical hypnosis results in significant reductions in self-reported and physiologically measured hot flashes and hot flash scores in postmenopausal women. Elkins’ research on hot flashes and sleep and hypnotherapy has been clinically shown to reduce hot flashes by up to 80%, more effective than any other hot flash management tool available, with the exception of hormone replacement. He also has found that hypnotherapy, as a mind-body intervention, can reduce hot flashes to a degree comparable to HRT, improve sleep quality by over 50% and reduce anxiety while increasing well-being.

 

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

​Gonsalkorale, W. M. (2003). Long term benefits of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Gut, 52(11), 1623–1629. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.52.11.1623

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Results: This study demonstrates that the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy appear to last at least five years. Thus it is a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

 

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Overactive Bladder and Urinary Incontinence

Ketai, L. H., Komesu, Y. M., Schrader, R. M., Rogers, R. G., Sapien, R. E., Dodd, A. B., & Mayer, A. R. (2021). Mind-body (hypnotherapy) treatment of women with urgency urinary incontinence: changes in brain attentional networks. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 224(5), 498.e1-498.e10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.041

Results: After treatment, participants in both groups demonstrated marked improvement in incontinence episodes. Compared with pharmacotherapy, hypnotherapy participants manifested increased functional connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a component of the dorsal attentional network.

 

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National Institutes of Health in conjunction with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Funded the Nation’s Largest Scientifically Peer-Reviewed Study of Hypnotherapy Using Integral Hypnotherapy™ Methodology. https://hypnotherapyacademy.com/learn-evidence-based-methods/

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Results: This double-blind, randomized control trial study of 152 women concluded that Integral Hypnotherapy® is just as effective — and in many cases superior — as compared to medication and other forms of therapy. Integral Hypnotherapy® was tested against the standard of care for overactive bladder and urge urinary incontinence.

 

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Pain Control

Jensen, M. P., & Patterson, D. R. (2014). Hypnotic approaches for chronic pain management: Clinical implications of recent research findings. American Psychologist, 69(2), 167–177. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035644

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy appear to last at least five years. Thus, it is a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

 

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Milling, L. S., Valentine, K. E., LoStimolo, L. M., Nett, A. M., & McCarley, H. S. (2021). Hypnosis and the Alleviation of Clinical Pain: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 69(3), 297–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2021.1920330

Results: This is the first comprehensive meta-analysis in approximately 20 years of all controlled studies of the use of hypnosis for relieving clinical pain. Findings strengthen the assertion that hypnosis is a very efficacious intervention for alleviating clinical pain

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Thompson, T., Terhune, D. B., Oram, C., Sharangparni, J., Rouf, R., Solmi, M., Veronese, N., & Stubbs, B. (2019). The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 99, 298–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.013

Results: Findings suggest that hypnotic intervention can deliver meaningful pain relief for most people and therefore may be an effective and safe alternative to pharmaceutical intervention. High quality clinical data is, however, needed to establish generalisability in chronic pain populations.

 

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Skin Conditions

Delaitre, L., Denis, J., & Maillard, H. (2020). Hypnosis in Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A Clinical Study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 68(4), 412–418. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2020.1788391

Results: Hypnosis may be useful in Atopic Dermatitis and may overcome the need for systemic treatments for some patients.

 

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Surgery

Montgomery, G. H., Bovbjerg, D. H., Schnur, J. B., David, D., Goldfarb, A., Weltz, C. R., Schechter, C., Graff-Zivin, J., Tatrow, K., Price, D. D., Silverstein, J. H. (2007) A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients.JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 99, Issue 17, 5 September,1304–1312, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djm106

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Results: Patients in the hypnosis group required less propofol than the control group and reported less pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset.

 

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Wound Healing

Ginandes, C., Brooks, P., Sando, W., Jones, C., & Aker, J. (2003). Can Medical Hypnosis Accelerate Post-Surgical Wound Healing? Results of a Clinical Trial. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 45(4), 333–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2003.10403546

Results: This preliminary trial indicates that use of a targeted hypnotic intervention can accelerate postoperative wound healing and suggest that further tests of using hypnosis to augment physical healing are warranted.