From the Guidelines
Hypnosis is a real and effective therapeutic technique that can be used to improve anxiety symptoms, manage pain, and treat certain psychological conditions.
Definition and Mechanism of Hypnosis
Hypnosis involves a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility where people become more receptive to ideas or instructions. It's used clinically by trained professionals for various purposes including pain management, stress reduction, smoking cessation, and treating certain psychological conditions. During hypnosis, people remain conscious and in control but experience a state of deep relaxation where they can be more open to therapeutic suggestions.
Evidence for Hypnosis
The effectiveness of hypnosis is supported by several studies, including a recent guideline published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology 1, which recommends hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety symptoms in adults with cancer. Additionally, a study published in the journal Gut 1 found that gut-directed hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with significant improvements in symptoms, anxiety, and depression.
Key Points About Hypnosis
Some key points to note about hypnosis include:
- Hypnosis is not mind control, and subjects cannot be made to do things against their will or core values.
- The effectiveness of hypnosis varies among individuals, with some people being more hypnotizable than others.
- Neuroimaging studies have shown distinct brain activity patterns during hypnotic states, providing scientific evidence for its physiological basis.
- Hypnosis can be delivered in various formats, including individual and group sessions, and can be tailored to the individual's symptom profile.
- Hypnosis has been shown to have socioeconomic benefits, including improving general well-being, reducing healthcare utilization, and improving quality of life.
Recommendations for Hypnosis
Based on the current evidence, hypnosis can be recommended as a treatment for anxiety symptoms, pain management, and certain psychological conditions, including IBS. It's essential to work with qualified practitioners, such as licensed psychologists or certified hypnotherapists, to experience the benefits of hypnosis.
From the Research
Definition and Mechanism of Hypnosis
- Hypnosis involves controlled modulation of components of cognition, such as awareness, volition, perception, and belief, by an external agent or by oneself, employing suggestion 2.
- It is an important therapeutic tool with an increasingly understood cognitive and neurobiological basis, and evidence for efficacy 2.
Efficacy of Hypnosis
- Hypnosis can be considered a possible treatment for 32 disorders, and it seems effective for 5 disorders, and specific for 2 disorders 3.
- The efficacy and safety of hypnotic techniques in somatic medicine, known as medical hypnosis, have been supported by scientific evidence, particularly in reducing pain and emotional stress during medical interventions, and in treating irritable bowel syndrome 4.
- Hypnosis is effective in reducing anxiety, with a mean weighted effect size of 0.79, indicating that the average participant receiving hypnosis reduced anxiety more than about 79% of control participants 5.
Applications of Hypnosis
- Hypnosis can be used in clinical settings, such as smoking cessation, with efficacy comparable to established programs like cognitive-behavioral therapy 6.
- Waking suggestions, a component of hypnosis, can be an effective part of doctor-patient communication in routine clinical situations 4.
- Hypnosis can be combined with other psychological interventions to enhance its effectiveness in reducing anxiety 5.