When is hypnotherapy (hypnotherapy) indicated?

Indications for Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is indicated as an adjunctive therapy for functional gastrointestinal disorders (particularly irritable bowel syndrome), chronic pain conditions, anxiety, and procedural pain management when provided by appropriately trained healthcare providers within their scope of practice. 1

Primary Indications for Hypnotherapy

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Hypnotherapy has shown significant efficacy for functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children, with studies showing marked improvement in pain frequency and severity compared to standard care 1
• Long-term benefits have been demonstrated with a significantly higher remission rate (68% vs 20%) at 5-year follow-up in children treated with hypnotherapy for functional abdominal pain 1

Pain Management

• Hypnotherapy is effective for both procedural and chronic pain management 1, 2
• It can be used as an adjunctive treatment for persistent pain conditions where conventional treatments have failed to provide adequate relief 2
• Hypnotherapy decreases pain intensity and improves pain-related function and quality of life outcomes more effectively than some other psychological interventions 2

Sleep Disorders

• Hypnotherapy can be beneficial for acute and chronic insomnia when used alongside sleep hygiene instructions 3
• It has shown effectiveness for parasomnias including head and body rocking, bedwetting, and sleepwalking 3
• Hypnosis allows for relaxation, increased suggestibility, and cognitive restructuring that can address underlying factors in sleep disorders 4

Anxiety and Psychological Conditions

• Hypnotherapy is indicated for anxiety disorders, particularly when used by licensed mental health practitioners 1
• It can be used for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when provided by qualified mental health professionals 1

Clinical Implementation Guidelines

Provider Qualifications and Collaboration

• Hypnotherapy should be provided by appropriately trained individuals who are licensed to treat the specific condition being addressed 1
• Healthcare providers should only use clinical hypnosis to assist in managing conditions they are already licensed to treat 1
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential - for example, mental health practitioners should not use hypnotherapy for IBS without physician co-management, and physicians should not use it for PTSD without mental health practitioner collaboration 1

Patient Selection Considerations

• Hypnotherapy is particularly effective in children who are generally more receptive to imagery processes than adults 5
• It can be valuable for patients with chronic conditions that have not responded adequately to conventional treatments 5
• Caution is advised in patients with a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or those with PTSD, where coordination with qualified mental health experts is strongly recommended 1

Limitations and Contraindications

• The effectiveness of hypnotherapy is highly dependent on the rapport between the practitioner and patient 3
• Standardized approaches are difficult to implement as treatment needs to be individualized to the specific goals and characteristics of each patient 1
• High-quality randomized controlled trials with clear methodologies for hypnotherapy are lacking in many areas 1
• Hypnotherapy should not be confused with or misperceived as the inappropriate practice of hypnosis by entertainers 1

Clinical Efficacy Data

• In a study of medically hospitalized patients, hypnotherapy provided total or almost total relief of symptoms in 68% of patients treated for depression, pain, anxiety, or side effects from chemotherapy 6
• Hypnotherapy has demonstrated effectiveness across a broad age range, from preschool-aged children through adolescents and adults 1
• Physiological changes in stress and immune biomarkers have been documented following guided imagery and hypnotherapy interventions 1