This study aimed to assess the feasibility of hypnotic induction as a complement to conscious sedation for implanting a port, which is a venous access device often used to deliver IV medications to cancer patients. Unlike general anesthesia, conscious sedation is a drug treatment that allows people to remain conscious during medical procedures. In this study, 30 women with breast cancer undergoing the implant procedure chose to receive a hypnotic induction session, which was followed by a sedative and local anesthesia. Twenty-nine of the women had successful implantation using a standard technique, and one was required to convert to an ultrasound-guided technique. There were no complications. The participants had an overall satisfaction rate of 90%, with 90% of women indicating they would get hypnosis again if reimplantation was necessary, and 90% of women recommending this procedure to others. The two surgeons involved in the procedure considered hypnosis neutral or helpful to implantation in 93.3% of cases. The results demonstrate that hypnosis with conscious sedation appears feasible and safe for port implantation in people with cancer.

Group therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for reducing emotional distress and fatigue in people with breast cancer. This study aimed to test if a method for improving well-being in people with breast cancer would also be beneficial for people with prostate cancer. The study followed 25 men with prostate cancer and 68 women with breast cancer who participated in six sessions of self-hypnosis exercises and self-care techniques. The women with breast cancer attended sessions twice a month for three months, while the men with prostate cancer attended sessions once a month for six months. Before the sessions, the women were shown to have higher anxiety (p = 0.048), fatigue (p = 0.003), and sleep difficulties (p = 0.013) compared to the men. After the sessions ended, the women showed improvements in anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and global health status, while there was no effect in the men. While the sessions did not produce a significant difference in men, fewer men than women reported having distress, fatigue, or sleep problems at the beginning of the study. Overall, the study shows that the combination of self-hypnosis and self-care is effective in improving well-being in women with breast cancer.

Radiation therapy is a common and effective treatment for women with breast cancer, but it may have adverse effects on emotional well-being. The study sought to improve patients’ quality of life during radiation therapy through a combination of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and hypnosis. In this randomized controlled trial, 100 women with breast cancer were divided into groups receiving either CBT plus hypnosis or a control group. Results revealed significant benefits of CBT plus hypnosis on emotional distress at varying intervals throughout the radiation therapy, including the midpoint, end, and four weeks after the treatment concluded. CBT plus hypnosis offers the benefits of being brief, non-invasive, lacking side effects, and produces long-lasting beneficial effects. These results support the further study of CBT plus hypnosis to reduce emotional distress in women with breast cancer.

Hypnotherapy is a non-pharmacological technique that can be used to reduce anxiety. The meta-analysis aimed to assess the use of hypnotherapy in reducing anxiety in people with cancer. Twenty studies were examined and their combined data revealed that hypnosis had a significant immediate effect on reducing anxiety in cancer patients (p < 0.01), and this effect was lasting (p < 0.01). Hypnosis delivered by a therapist combined with self-hypnosis had triple the effect size of self-hypnosis alone (p < 0.01). The results show that hypnosis can reduce anxiety in cancer patients, especially for pediatric cancer patients who experience procedure-related stress.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hypnotherapy on the health-related quality of life of people with breast cancer during chemotherapy, as measured by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Forty women with an early diagnosis of breast cancer (stages I, II, or III) who were undergoing chemotherapy were split into groups receiving hypnotherapy or a control group. The hypnotherapy group received 24 hypnotherapy sessions over six months. This group showed a statistically significant improvement and a large effect size on cognitive functioning (p = 0.011) and social functioning (p = 0.015) compared to the control group. The study suggests that hypnotherapy can improve the health-related quality of life of people with breast cancer during chemotherapy.

Mental training has proven to be effective in improving performance in musicians and athletes. Based on this research, it has been suggested that mental training may be a useful method for surgical trainees. This study followed 11 surgeons who completed a proficiency-based training program on a Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) simulator and had reached a plateau in their task performance. A plateau was defined as the difference between the worst and best attempts at a task being at most 10% of the score. The participants performed one session of the task, listened to 10 minutes of relaxing music, and performed a second session. Afterward, the participants underwent hypnosis for 20 minutes, conducted by a clinical psychologist with a certification to practice hypnosis, and then performed the third and last session of the task. On average, it took the group 51.1 seconds to perform the task at their baseline plateau. After listening to music, it took them 47.9 seconds on average to perform the second session, a 6.3% improvement that was not significantly different (p = 0.86). Lastly, after hypnosis, it took them an average of 40.1 seconds to perform the task, demonstrating a further improvement of 15.3% and a total improvement of 21.6% from baseline. This was a significant improvement in task performance after hypnosis compared to both the baseline plateau (p < 0.001) and listening to relaxing music (p = 0.009). The results show that hypnosis-induced mental training significantly improves performance on the FLS simulator. Because relaxing music did not show a significant effect on performance, the impact of hypnosis is likely due to more than its relaxing qualities. The study suggests that hypnotic techniques can be an effective component of mental preparation processes.

Attention is a key factor in both hypnosis and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with overlap in areas of the brain associated with hypnosis and ADHD. This study investigated how hypnosis and hypnotic suggestions influenced the performance of 27 adults with ADHD compared to a control group of 31 adults without ADHD in a Continuous Performance Test (CPT). The groups did not significantly differ in their susceptibility to hypnosis (p = 0.26). The test involved listening to a recording of 100 spoken letters and pressing a button when a target letter was heard. The participants were tested four times: before hypnosis (CPT1), after a hypnotic induction (CPT2), after suggestions about speed and accuracy (CPT3), and after the end of hypnosis (CPT4). There was a statistically significant decrease in reaction times in both ADHD and control groups from CPT2 (after induction, neutral hypnosis) to CPT3 (after suggestions), indicating an influence of hypnotic suggestions on reaction times. This study indicates that hypnotic suggestions decrease reaction times across people with and without ADHD and that it is possible to influence the cognitive performance of people with ADHD by hypnotic suggestions.

Hypnotizability is a person’s susceptibility to hypnosis. Hypnotizability is linked to executive functioning, a part of the brain that plays a role in cognitive conflict resolution and perseveration. An example of this is applying a previously learned logical rule to a new situation. This study collected neuroimaging data, showing scans of the brain. Seventy-two healthy adults were tested for hypnotizability and the executive functions of perseveration and set-shifting. Perseveration is a tendency to repeat actions or thoughts, while set-shifting is the flexibility to switch between tasks or ideas. Higher hypnotizability was associated with lower perseveration, and hypnotizability significantly predicted perseveration but not set-shifting. These results indicate an inverse relationship between hypnotizability and perseveration. This suggests that hypnotizability may share a common cognitive mechanism with error evaluation and implementing logical rules.

Milton H. Erickson, Ernest L. Rossi, and David A. Ravitz are prominent experts in psychology and hypnotherapy research. This study sought to assess their hypotheses on the influence of hypnosis on the human electromagnetic field. Original charts measured the electrodynamic voltage differences of 44 people. The voltage differences from Ravitz, Erickson, and Rossi’s research were digitized and analyzed with statistical software to check the significance of four hypotheses about ways hypnosis influences the individual’s electrodynamic recording. The results of this analysis on the condition of electrodynamic voltage measured in the body were: (1) there was a statistically significant difference between the prehypnotic condition and hypnosis (p < 0.001); (2) there was a statistically significant difference between hypnosis and posthypnotic condition (p < 0.001); (3) there was no significant difference between posthypnotic and prehypnotic condition; and (4) there was a statistically significant correlation between an induction of catalepsy (an unmoving, trance-like state) and alterations in electrical activity (p < 0.001). In summary, electrodynamic activity is affected during hypnosis and the analysis of electrodynamic recordings suggests that hypnosis enhances receptivity and focused attention, supporting theories by Ravitz, Rossi, and Erickson.

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is an evidence-based treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote gut-directed hypnotherapy has been offered more often. This study surveyed the satisfaction of people with IBS who received gut-directed hypnotherapy using the Manchester protocol online through Skype for 12 sessions. Among the 52 people surveyed, 52% reported they would have opted for remote over face-to-face sessions regardless of the pandemic. They rated the platform an average of 4.5 out of 5 for being easy to use. After the treatment, 92.3% of participants had an improvement in overall IBS symptoms, and 46% had at least a 30% reduction in pain. Overall, 90.3% of the group would recommend remote gut-directed hypnotherapy to others. These results show that gut-directed hypnotherapy provided remotely is a viable and effective treatment option for IBS patients.

This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of a self-administered, digital gut-directed hypnotherapy with digital muscle relaxation in adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Three hundred and sixty-two people with IBS were split into groups receiving 12 weeks of treatment with either Regulora, an FDA-cleared prescription mobile app for gut-directed hypnotherapy, or a muscle relaxation app. During weeks nine through twelve of treatment, significantly more of the gut-directed hypnotherapy group (30.9%) compared to the muscle relaxation group (21.5%) had a 30% or more reduction in average abdominal pain (p = 0.0232). Significantly more of the gut-directed hypnotherapy group (29.3%) also had this level of pain reduction during the entire treatment period compared to 18.8% of the muscle relaxation group (p =0.0254). Four weeks after treatment, both groups showed similar proportions in reduction of average abdominal pain. No participants experienced serious adverse events that were considered serious or that caused study discontinuation. The results show that digital gut-directed hypnotherapy led to an improvement in abdominal pain and stool symptoms in patients with IBS, supporting its use as part of integrated care for IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects at least 5% of people worldwide, causing cramping and abdominal pain. In this randomized controlled trial, 90 people with IBS were split into groups receiving either 10 sessions of weekly gut-directed hypnotherapy combined with supportive medical treatment or a control group receiving supportive medical treatment alone. Within 12 weeks, 60.8% of the hypnotherapy group and 40.9% of the control group had significant clinical improvements (p = 0.046). After a one-year follow-up, 54.3% of the hypnotherapy group and 25.0% of the control group still had significant clinical improvements (p = 0.004). This shows both a significantly higher improvement in the hypnosis group, as well as a lasting impact. Overall, hypnotherapy as a complement to medical treatment improved physical and psychological well-being significantly more than medical treatment alone (p < 0.001).

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gut-brain interaction disorder. This study was a randomized trial that assessed 448 people with IBS receiving gut-directed hypnotherapy. The method used was the Manchester protocol, which aims to teach skills for gut control. The participants were split into two groups receiving weekly hypnotherapy sessions for either six weeks or 12 weeks. At the end of treatment, the participants were surveyed on their IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS), where a higher score indicates more severe symptoms of IBS. There was at least a 50-point reduction in IBS-SSS in 78.8% of people in the six-session group and 73.9% of people in the 12-session group. Also, 63.4% of the six-session group and 57.0% of the 12-session group had at least a 30% reduction in abdominal pain. These results show the efficacy of both treatment lengths and suggest that a six-session treatment can be just as effective while requiring fewer resources and time.

Overactive bladder is a condition causing a sudden, urgent need to urinate which can be difficult to control. This paper reviewed and summarized the results of 10 studies that used hypnotherapeutic treatment regimens for people with overactive bladder. All studies suggested that hypnotherapy offered measurable benefits when utilized with traditional medical treatments for overactive bladder. Specifically, hypnotherapy improved people’s ability to relax, reduced anxiety around their condition and improved people’s perceived capability to cope with symptoms. With hypnotherapy showing subjective improvements and increasing self-efficacy, this review paper supports the use of hypnotherapy as an additional psychological intervention to medical treatment for overactive bladder.

This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of group hypnotherapy on people with high stress. The study included 95 people who were healthy and had high self-assessed levels of stress. The participants were split into groups receiving hypnotherapy and an educational booklet for coping with stress versus a control group receiving only the booklet. The hypnosis group had five weekly sessions of group hypnotherapy plus five audio hypnosis recordings for practice at home. Stress levels were measured at the end of the five-week treatment and at a 12-week follow-up. After five weeks, the participants in the hypnosis group had significantly lower stress levels than the control group (p < 0.001), as well as reduced stress intensity at the 12-week follow-up (p = 0.006). After 12 weeks, 97.7% of the hypnosis group reported that their main therapeutic goal was partially or completely achieved, compared to 37.0% of the control group. The results show efficacy as well as satisfaction in using hypnosis to lower perceived stress levels.

This meta-analysis combined 17 trials of hypnosis as a treatment for symptoms of anxiety. At the end of active treatment, 17 trials produced a mean weighted effect size of 0.79 (p ≤ 0.001), indicating the average participant receiving hypnosis experienced a reduction in anxiety more than about 79% of control participants. At the longest follow-up, seven trials had a mean weighted effect size of 0.99 (p ≤ 0.001), demonstrating that the average participant treated with hypnosis improved more than about 84% of control participants. Hypnosis was used as both a standalone treatment and in combination with other psychological interventions and was found to be more effective in reducing anxiety as a complementary treatment.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the function of the autonomic nervous system. HRV is decreased in people diagnosed with major depression. This study assessed 21 people with depression with electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings before, during, and after hypnosis. Compared to before hypnosis, HRV parameters significantly increased during and after hypnosis (p < 0.01). The results suggest that hypnosis treatment can produce functional improvement in the autonomic nervous system and that HRV can be used as a tool to measure the impact of hypnosis treatment in people with depression.

This meta-analysis combined 13 trials of hypnosis as a treatment for symptoms of depression. The mean weighted effect size of 13 trials at the end of active treatment was 0.71 (p ≤ 0.001), indicating the average participant receiving hypnosis showed more improvement than about 76% of control participants. The mean weighted effect size for four trials of hypnosis at the longest follow-up was 0.52 (p ≤ 0.01), indicating the average participant treated with hypnosis showed more improvement than about 51% of control participants. These effect sizes are comparable to those associated with well-known psychological interventions for depression, suggesting hypnosis is a very effective way of alleviating the symptoms of depression. Clinicians could use hypnosis as a standalone treatment for depression symptoms or as a complement to other forms of therapy like Beck’s cognitive therapy or interpersonal therapy.

Chronic conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), idiopathic epilepsies, or anxiety disorder can negatively impact self-esteem in children. This study aimed to show the feasibility of hypnosis for improving self-esteem in children with these conditions. The research included a total of 11 children (six ADHD, one anxiety disorder, four epilepsy) with low self-esteem who underwent the same hypnosis protocol conducted by the same therapist. Self-esteem was measured at the beginning and the end of the hypnosis session. The results showed a significant improvement in self-esteem after hypnosis (p ≤ 0.05) with no side effects or disease worsening. As the first study in its field, this initial study demonstrates the feasibility of therapeutic hypnosis in clinical practice for improving self-esteem in chronic pediatric conditions.

People requiring coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) are often affected by depression and anxiety both before and after surgery. CABS is a treatment for coronary heart disease, which is more prevalent in males. This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the feasibility of hypnotherapeutic ego strengthening to help patients cope with simultaneous anxiety and depression. Fifty men requiring CABS were split into either a group receiving hypnotherapeutic ego-strengthening sessions both before and after surgery or a control group receiving none. The participants were studied at the time of discharge and at a six-week follow-up. The results confirmed significant practical reductions of anxiety and depression in the hypnosis group. They were maintained at follow-up, while a trend toward increased depression levels occurred in the control group. This indicates that hypnotherapeutic ego-strengthening techniques have the potential to reduce anxiety and depression during CABS.

This randomized controlled trial involved 55 college students with elevated stress levels. The participants were divided into a group which received audio recordings of a brief mindful hypnosis and a control group which received cognitive training. The results showed that the brief mindful hypnosis had a medium size and significant effect on reducing stress reactivity and weekly stress while also increasing mindfulness. Additionally, brief mindful hypnosis provided large increases in immediate relaxation compared to cognitive training. The hypnosis group also showed significantly higher satisfaction compared to the controls, particularly regarding the perceived benefit of the training (p = 0.007) and the likelihood of using it in the future (p = 0.009). The results support that brief audio-based mindful hypnosis can significantly reduce stress reactivity while increasing relaxation and mindfulness versus cognitive training.

Migraines are classed as one of the top causes of disability worldwide due to their severe and long-lasting headache symptoms. This randomized controlled trial studied 43 people diagnosed with a headache disorder and experiencing migraines. The participants were split into two groups: one group received online hypnosis audio recordings to listen to over a four week period and the other group was the control. Both groups were assessed at a six-week follow up. The recordings involved an induction, deepeners, posthypnotic suggestions that were pain-related and non-pain-related, and a section to bring participants out of hypnosis. The study surveyed participants on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), which measures negative thoughts and emotions related to pain, and the Headache Disability Index (HDI), which assesses emotional and functional disability caused by headaches. At the six-week follow-up, the group receiving hypnosis had significantly reduced scores on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (p < 0.001) as well as the Headache Disability Index (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. On average, there was a 48% reduction in HDI score in the hypnosis group and a 2% reduction in the control group. The hypnosis group also had a 60% median reduction in PCS compared to 0% in the control group. The results demonstrate the efficacy of online hypnosis audio recordings in reducing headache symptoms of people experiencing migraines.

This meta-analysis combined the results of 42 studies comparing the effect of hypnosis to a control in reducing any form of clinical pain. Types of pain studied included chronic, acute, and procedural, ranging across labor, fibromyalgia, cancer, lumbar puncture, bone marrow aspiration, phantom limb, burn wounds, headaches, and more. Results show hypnosis has a medium effect size (p ≤ 0.001) as measured on the standardized Cohen index and that the average participant receiving hypnosis reduced pain more than approximately 73% of control participants. The results of this study are consistent with other research on effect size of hypnosis on pain. The breadth and depth of data support the efficacy of hypnosis in managing clinical pain.

Reducing anxiety near the time of surgery and controlling pain in children is essential to optimizing recovery and outcomes for both children and their parents. Because hypnosis achieves both sensory and affective modulation of anxiety and pain, it has become widely used in medical care, especially in anesthesia. This randomized controlled clinical trial studied 60 children ranging in age from seven to 16 yrs who were undergoing short, skin-level surgery. The children were divided into two groups: one group received general anesthesia and the other received only hypnosis. The minimum age of seven was chosen according to the stage of childhood cognitive development that allows for hypnotic suggestibility. The surgical procedures took place in a hospital critical care unit and included mole or skin tumor removal, ear repositioning, removing internal screws or pins, and scar recovery. Fewer children had high levels of anxiety near the time of surgery in the hypnosis group (11%) than in the general anesthesia group (30%), reflecting a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). Pain scores did not differ between groups. The median length of hospital stay was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the hypnosis group (2 hours) compared to the general anesthesia group (4 hours). These results support the use of hypnosis as an effective and safe alternative to general anesthesia for short, skin-level surgery in children.

Chronic pain can be musculoskeletal, affecting muscles or joints, and neuropathic, involving the nerves. This meta-analysis evaluated 530 people across nine studies that used hypnosis to manage chronic musculoskeletal and/or neuropathic pain. Compared to control groups, participants receiving hypnosis had a moderate decrease in pain intensity (p = 0.025) and pain interference, which is the degree to which pain interferes with general activity, mood, walking, work, relations with others, sleep, and enjoyment of life (p = 0.029). The effect of hypnosis compared to control treatments was significant after eight or more sessions (p = 0.034). These findings suggest that extended hypnosis treatment can be beneficial as a complementary approach to managing chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain.

Hemophilia is a genetic disorder more commonly found in men that causes a deficiency in blood clotting. This can lead to intensely painful bleeding in the joints. In this randomized controlled trial, 20 men with hemophilia were split into groups receiving either four weekly hypnosis sessions plus conventional treatment or solely conventional treatment. The combined hypnosis plus conventional treatment significantly improved pain interference with regular work (p = 0.010) and perception of health status (p = 0.016). The participants attended 100% of the hypnosis sessions and reported no harm or detrimental effects caused by hypnosis. This pilot study shows the feasibility of hypnosis as a non-pharmacological complementary treatment for pain management in people with hemophilia.

Septorhinoplasty is a nose surgery that can cause acute bleeding and pain. In this randomized controlled trial, 22 people undergoing septorhinoplasty were split into a hypnosis group and a control group. The hypnosis group received three sessions of hypnotic induction in the days leading up to surgery, followed by general anesthesia during surgery. In contrast, the control group received only general anesthesia during surgery. The hypnosis group required significantly less of the sedative remifentanil during the operation than the control group (p = 0.034). Pain scores were also significantly lower in the hypnosis group as compared to the control group, both two hours (p = 0.028) and three hours (p = 0.047) post-operatively. These results show the feasibility of pre-operative hypnosis to help manage post-operative pain.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes chronic pain and fatigue. This meta-analysis evaluated studies using guided imagery and hypnosis in treating fibromyalgia. Among 299 people across six studies, hypnosis and guided imagery were superior to controls in producing pain relief of 50% or more from the subjects’ baseline pain scores (p = 0.008). Also, among 95 people who were treated with hypnosis combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus CBT alone, the combined treatment showed a greater reduction in psychological distress for fibromyalgia patients (p = 0.02). The results of this meta-analysis support the efficacy of guided imagery and hypnosis and the combination of hypnosis and CBT in reducing key symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Chronic pain is a common and serious health problem in older patients. This randomized controlled trial measured the feasibility and efficacy of hypnosis (including self-hypnosis) in the management of chronic pain in older hospitalized patients. A sample of 53 patients with an average age of 80.6 years were split into groups receiving either hypnosis or massage sessions once a week for three weeks. While pain intensity decreased significantly in both groups after each session, only the hypnosis group showed a decrease in pain intensity before sessions over time (p = 0.008). This study shows that hypnosis is a safe and valuable tool for elderly hospitalized patients that can reduce pain intensity and have a positive effect on mood.

People with burns experience three types of pain: procedural pain during wound treatments, acute episodes in breakthrough pain, and background pain that is persistent throughout daily life. This randomized controlled trial involved 60 men with burns who were split into a group receiving hypnotherapy and a control group receiving a placebo of “neutral” hypnosis. All participants attended four sessions in which the hypnotherapy group received a hypnosis script specifically designed to induce rapid pain relief, and the neutral hypnosis group received general, non-therapeutic suggestions such as imagining being on a beach or in a garden. After treatment, there was no significant difference between the groups in reducing background pain intensity (p = 0.392). However, the hypnotherapy group had a significant reduction in background pain quality, a measure of emotional and sensory intensity (p = 0.031), and pain anxiety (p = 0.046) when compared to the control group. The results show that hypnotherapy provided a significantly different effect than neutral hypnosis and was effective in reducing background pain quality and pain anxiety of men with burns.

This randomized controlled trial studied 1,222 pregnant women and split them into three groups of different childbirth experiences. The hypnosis group was taught self-hypnosis for three sessions in addition to receiving standard care while the relaxation group was taught mindfulness for three sessions and also received standard care. The control group received only standard pregnancy care which consisted of scans, midwifery clinic visits and a tour of the birth department. Six weeks after birth, the women were surveyed on their childbirth experience, including aspects like fear, pain, and confidence. Women in the hypnosis group rated their childbirth experience as better compared to women in the relaxation group and the control group (p = 0.01). Teaching self-hypnosis can be implemented realistically and inexpensively in childbirth settings and, as shown, provides a positive impact on the childbirth experience.

Dysmenorrhea is painful cramping that occurs during menstruation. This randomized controlled trial studied the effect of hypnosis on dysmenorrhea. A sample of 50 people was split into groups receiving either hypnosis sessions or the standard drug therapy (Ibuprofen) for three months. At the end of the three months of treatment, the participants’ quality of life scores improved for both the hypnosis group (p < 0.0001) and the Ibuprofen group (p < 0.001). Quality of life was defined by the severity and effect of symptoms like menstrual pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches/dizziness and their effect on the participants’ ability to perform work and routine activities. This study suggests hypnosis has a similar impact to conventional drug treatment in managing dysmenorrhea.

Research suggests that postmenopausal women are 2.3 times more likely to experience sexual dysfunction when compared to premenopausal women. In this study, 111 sexual active postmenopausal women were split into groups receiving five weeks of hypnotic relaxation therapy or a control and completed a sexual activity questionnaire. Participants receiving hypnosis had a significant improvement in their sexual pleasure scores at the end of treatment and remained stable with a slight increase at a 12-week follow-up. Total sexual activity scores, which assessed both sexual pleasure and sexual discomfort, were significantly improved in the hypnosis group. These results show a benefit in the use of hypnotic relaxation therapy to improve sexual function in postmenopausal women.

Hot flashes and night sweats are common symptoms among postmenopausal women. In this study, 187 postmenopausal women were split into a group which received five weeks of hypnotherapy or a control group which did not receive an intervention. At a 12-week follow-up, the hypnotherapy group had an average 74.16% decrease in the frequency of hot flashes compared to a 17.13% decrease in the control group (p < 0.001). The hot flash score was also calculated taking into account the frequency and severity of hot flashes. At a 12-week follow-up, 80.32% of the hypnosis group had improved hot flash scores compared to 15.38% of the control condition. The groups were also surveyed on treatment satisfaction on a scale from 0 (highly dissatisfied) to 10 (highly satisfied). The hypnosis group had an average satisfaction rating of 9.33 compared to 7.09 in the control group, indicating significantly higher satisfaction (p < 0.001). These results show the efficacy of hypnotherapy in improving hot flash frequency and severity, as well as providing treatment satisfaction in postmenopausal women.

Hot flashes are a frequent symptom in breast cancer survivors, as up to 90% of young breast cancer survivors experience premature menopause due to their treatment. Because estrogen replacement therapy, an effective treatment for hot flashes, is not recommended for women who have previously had breast cancer or have a risk for breast cancer, they must seek alternative treatment for hot flashes. This randomized controlled trial involved 15 women with a personal history of breast cancer or an increased risk of breast cancer who reported having at least one hot flash a day. The women were split into groups receiving either three weekly hypnotherapy sessions or gabapentin, an anticonvulsant drug. After eight weeks, the median number of daily hot flashes was reduced by 33.3% in the gabapentin group and by 80% in the hypnotherapy group. The median hot flash severity was reduced by 33.3% in the gabapentin group and 85% in the hypnotherapy group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups. These results indicate the efficacy of hypnotherapy in improving hot flashes and validate hypnotherapy as a safe and effective alternative to drug treatment.

Poor sleep is one of the most frequent health concerns among menopausal women, and training in self-hypnosis could help alleviate symptoms. This randomized trial studied 90 postmenopausal women who were split into 4 groups, each of which received either 3 in-person self-hypnosis sessions, 5 in-person self-hypnosis sessions, 3 self-hypnosis phone calls, or 5 self-hypnosis phone calls, all over 5 weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score was used to measure sleep quality. By the end of treatment, all groups had an improvement in sleep quality compared to before treatment (p < 0.05), with no significant difference between groups. A range of 81.3% to 100% of participants across groups had a clinically meaningful improvement in PSQI. With comparable successful results across in-person delivery and phone delivery, the study suggests that audio recordings to practice self-hypnosis at home could be an accessible and effective method to improve sleep.

Sleep quality is shown to decline with age, particularly slow-wave sleep, which negatively impacts cognitive functioning in older adults. This randomized controlled trial studied 39 healthy elderly women who were split into groups based on having high or low hypnotic suggestibility. The study included only women to avoid the known effect of gender on sleep and suggestibility. Furthermore, groups were split into those who listened to audio recordings of hypnotic suggestions to sleep deeply or placebo audio recordings of a Wikipedia article narrated in a neutral tone. Women with high suggestibility to hypnosis had a statistically significant 57% increase in slow-wave sleep when listening to hypnotic suggestions compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). Women with low suggestibility were not significantly affected. The participants also completed a verbal fluency task before and after sleep as a measure of memory function. Suggestible participants had a significant improvement in this task after hypnosis compared to participants with low suggestibility (p = 0.047), indicating improved cognitive function after sleep. These results show hypnosis as an effective psychological technique to improve slow-wave sleep and cognition in the elderly.

Poor sleep commonly affects college students, with approximately two out of three rating their sleep as suboptimal. Mental overactivity, like worry, rumination, and physiological arousal prior to sleep, are associated with sleep disturbances. This study explored self-hypnosis as a technique to improve sleep among college students. Twenty-two students with poor sleep quality used self-hypnosis for three weeks. The participants listened to audio tracks of hypnotic inductions and suggestions designed to improve sleep quality each night when they were ready to go to sleep. They were measured on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), where a score over five indicates poor sleep. Participants demonstrated a significant improvement in PSQI after three weeks, going from an average score of 8.23 to 4.80 (p < 0.001). Participants also had a significant reduction in insomnia symptoms (p < 0.001). The results show the efficacy of hypnosis in improving sleep quality and insomnia symptoms among college students.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in the United States. Treatment provides a high survival rate but can also cause prolonged side effects, including insomnia. The study surveyed 82 men with prostate cancer on their insomnia symptoms and willingness to try behavioral strategies to improve sleep. Among different treatment options of medication, cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), hypnosis, mindfulness, acupuncture, and herbal supplements, hypnosis was the method that the fewest number of participants had tried. Among men who had not tried hypnosis, a majority of those who had moderate to severe insomnia, were willing to try hypnosis. This was a significantly higher interest compared to those who had milder insomnia symptoms (p < 0.001). A similar trend was observed with CBT (p < 0.01). The results show that men more severely affected by insomnia are most interested in non-pharmaceutical treatments like CBT and hypnosis, when given a choice of novel therapeutic interventions.

Nearly four million smokers are hospitalized each year, which can help motivate them to stop smoking. This randomized controlled trial studied 122 smokers who were hospitalized for heart or lung illnesses. They were split among three groups that received either a single hypnotherapy session, 30 days of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), or combined hypnotherapy and nicotine replacement therapy (HNRT). Additionally, everyone received self-help materials and counseling. Using multivariable regression analysis, members of the hypnotherapy (p = 0.03) and HNRT groups (p = 0.04) were over three times more likely than the NRT group to abstain from smoking 26 weeks after discharge from the hospital. This demonstrates the efficacy of hypnotherapy combined with counseling over conventional NRT combined with counseling in aiding smoking cessation among a motivated group.

Worldwide, more than eight million people die each year as a result of tobacco use. CBT is an established method for smoking cessation. Smokers who want to quit showed interest in hypnotherapy for smoking cessation when surveyed. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the efficacy of hypnotherapy versus CBT for smoking cessation. A total of 360 smokers who were willing to quit were split into groups receiving either hypnotherapy or CBT once a week for six weeks. The groups were followed for one year. During this time, 15% of the hypnotherapy group continuously abstained from smoking while 15.6% of the CBT group achieved the same result. This difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05), which suggests a comparable efficacy between hypnotherapy and CBT for smoking cessation.

This research study evaluated 100 mobile health (mHealth) smoking cessation apps on how they apply the transtheoretical model of behavior change to aid in quitting smoking. The behavioral processes that were studied included self-liberation (making a commitment to quit smoking), counter-conditioning (replacing smoking with a healthy behavior), helping relationships (using social support), reinforcement management (increasing rewards for quitting and decreasing awards for smoking), and stimulus control (removing cues to smoke). Among the different types of mHealth apps, hypnotherapy apps included on average 1.16 more behavioral processes than cigarette trackers (p < 0.01) and 1.85 more behavioral processes than apps with a combination of features like gaming, cigarette trackers, and motivational coaching (p < 0.01). Combining health literacy strategies like plain language, usability, and interactivity with behavior change processes can help further improve smoking cessation apps.

Over 60% of performing musicians are expected to experience musical performance anxiety in their lifetime, which can have a negative effect on behavior and performance. This randomized controlled trial involved 46 advanced pianists with musical performance anxiety who were split into three groups receiving either cognitive hypnotherapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), or a control group with no therapy. The participants were studied over a period in which they performed at two concerts, one before and one after treatment. Results showed that both the hypnotherapy and EMDR groups (but not the control) experienced a significant reduction in state anxiety after therapy and a significant improvement in performance. This suggests both hypnotherapy and EMDR are effective methods in decreasing musical performance anxiety and improving performance.

Self-efficacy means the belief in one’s abilities, which has a proven psychological impact in sports. This study evaluated the effects of hypnosis on self-efficacy and soccer performance. In this randomized controlled trial, 59 college soccer players were split into groups that received either three sessions of hypnosis with ego-strengthening suggestions or a control group that watched professional soccer games. Then, performance was assessed using a soccer wall-volley task involving kicking a soccer ball at a target. Self-efficacy was analyzed using a questionnaire. Participants were measured after treatment and at a four-week follow-up. The hypnosis group held higher self-efficacy beliefs than the control group after treatment (p < 0.001) and also remained higher at the follow-up stage (p < 0.001). In terms of performance, after treatment, the hypnosis group scored higher on the soccer wall-volley task than the control group (p < 0.001) and performed better again at the four-week follow-up (p < 0.006). The results show that hypnosis has a medium to large effect on self-efficacy and performance, suggesting that hypnosis could be leveraged by sports psychologists and athletes.

This study performed two meta-analyses to research the effectiveness of hypnosis on obesity, both on its own or combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The first meta-analysis covered 14 trials comparing hypnosis against a control condition. It found hypnosis to have a large effect size at the end of treatment, indicating a significant impact (p ≤ .001). The average participant receiving some form of hypnosis lost more weight than 94% of control participants at the end of treatment and 81% of controls at follow-up. The second meta-analysis specifically compared across 13 trials CBT augmented by hypnosis to CBT alone. The average participant receiving CBT plus hypnosis lost more weight than 60% of participants receiving only CBT at the end of treatment and 79% of participants receiving only CBT at follow-up. These results show hypnosis as a feasible treatment option for obesity and its efficacy as a complementary treatment with CBT.

This randomized controlled trial followed 82 obese adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater who had high disinhibition scores linked to uncontrolled overeating. Disinhibition is an eating behavior which refers to the tendency to overeat in response to different stimuli, especially emotional stress. Disinhibition has been shown to be a strong predictor of regaining weight after weight loss. In the study, participants were divided into groups receiving hypnosis and training in self-hypnosis combined with nutrition education, or a control group receiving nutrition education alone. After eight months, the hypnosis group had a greater reduction in disinhibition scores compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Overall, 88% of the hypnosis group reduced their disinhibition score by at least two points compared to 42% of the control group, with 67.7% of the hypnosis group even able to normalize their disinhibition compared to only 11.1% of the control group (p < 0.0001). In addition to these results, those in the hypnosis group were able to achieve a significantly lower BMI at the completion of the study, when compared to the control group at the end of the study (p = 0.028). The results show support for hypnosis in improving eating behavior and producing a beneficial effect on weight loss.

A clinical study investigated the effect of hypnotherapy on weight loss in 32 obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and higher. The participants attended weekly hypnotherapy sessions for a total of 10 weeks. The participants’ BMI and blood levels of leptin, adiponectin (ADP), and irisin were measured before and after the 10 weeks of hypnotherapy. As a result, average BMI decreased from 33.43 to 31.45 (p = 0.000), and average blood levels of leptin decreased from 9.48 to 6.47 (p = 0.001). The decrease in BMI and leptin reflects weight loss. Average blood levels of ADP increased from 6.73 to 7.68 (p = 0.001), and average irisin increased from 1.43 to 1.53 (p = 0.038). The increase in ADP demonstrates improved metabolic health, and the increase in irisin indicates improved fat burning. These results show that hypnotherapy provides significant weight loss and improves metabolic health and fat-burning in obese patients. Hypnotherapy is accessible, inexpensive, and effective. It has no potential for side effects and can be applied alone and in combination with other treatments making it a safe and impactful option for managing obesity and improving well-being.

This randomized controlled trial involved 104 overweight or obese participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher. Participants were split into groups receiving hypnotherapy sessions plus health education or a control group receiving health education alone. Participants’ body weight and body composition (BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage) were measured. After 12 weeks, the hypnotherapy group lost an average of 8.11 lbs compared to 5.07 lbs in the control group demonstrating a significantly greater amount of weight was lost when utilizing hypnosis (p = 0.003). Those who practiced self-hypnosis on a regular basis, at least once a day, lost significantly more weight than those who did not (p < 0.001). The results show significantly more weight loss when hypnotherapy is combined with health education than when receiving health education alone.

The traditional approach to treating obesity involves diet, exercise, and behavioral recommendations. This randomized controlled trial involved 104 severely obese participants with a BMI of 35 or higher. Participants were split into 2 groups: one completing self hypnosis and lifestyle interventions and one group utilizing lifestyle interventions alone. The participants were studied for one year, and by the end, both groups experienced similar weight loss on average, 14.3 lbs for the hypnosis group and 12.3 lbs for the control group (p = 0.79). However, within the hypnosis group, those who practiced self-hypnosis regularly showed significantly greater weight loss (p < 0.001). Participants who practiced self-hypnosis at least once per day had an average 21.2 lb weight loss, while those in the hypnosis group who rarely or never practiced self-hypnosis showed an average of 0.4 lb weight gain. These results show the impact of consistent use of self-hypnosis on weight loss.