Is the efficacy of hypnotherapy (hypnosis therapy) apps comparable to face-to-face hypnotherapy?

Efficacy of Hypnotherapy Apps Compared to Face-to-Face Treatment

Hypnotherapy apps show promise but are currently less effective than face-to-face treatment, with limited evidence-based options available and most lacking proper clinical validation.

Current State of Hypnotherapy Apps

The landscape of hypnotherapy apps is concerning from an evidence-based perspective:

• Only 20.2% of available hypnosis apps indicate that developers or providers have formal training in hypnosis 1
• Just 7.7% of apps make any claim of evidence-based treatment, and only four apps have been included in clinical efficacy trials 1
• Out of 679 unique hypnosis apps reviewed, only 168 met basic inclusion criteria for delivering actual hypnotherapy interventions 1

This means the vast majority of apps patients download are not based on validated protocols and may not deliver therapeutic-quality hypnosis.

Direct Comparison: Apps vs. Face-to-Face

The most rigorous comparison comes from a study of Skype-delivered hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome, which serves as a proxy for app-based delivery:

• Face-to-face hypnotherapy achieved a 76% response rate (defined as ≥50-point reduction in IBS Symptom Severity Score) 2
• Skype hypnotherapy achieved a 65% response rate - effective but measurably inferior 2
• All secondary outcomes favored face-to-face treatment: symptom severity reduction (-129.2 vs. -94.1), quality of life improvement (+66.2 vs. +56.4), and pain reduction ≥30% (62% vs. 44%) 2

Video-based hypnotherapy via platforms like Skype appears more effective than pure app-based delivery because it maintains the therapeutic relationship and allows for individualization 3. Early reports suggest video consultation achieves similar response rates to face-to-face treatment 4, though this represents therapist-delivered care via video rather than automated app content.

Evidence for Traditional Face-to-Face Hypnotherapy

To understand what apps are attempting to replicate, the gold standard shows:

• Meta-analysis of 6 RCTs (639 patients) demonstrated face-to-face hypnotherapy reduces risk of remaining symptomatic with RR 0.73 (95% CI 0.55-0.97) compared to education/support 4
• In the largest clinical series of 1,000 patients, >75% achieved clinical response to face-to-face hypnotherapy 4
• Long-term efficacy is sustained: 5-year follow-up in children showed 68% remission rate with hypnotherapy vs. 20% with standard care (P=0.005) 4

Clinical Implications and Recommendations

For patients seeking hypnotherapy, prioritize in this order:

1. Face-to-face treatment with a trained hypnotherapist remains the gold standard 4
2. Video-delivered hypnotherapy by a trained therapist is an acceptable alternative when access is limited, achieving 65% response rates 2
3. Evidence-based apps may serve as adjunctive tools but should not replace therapist-delivered care 3

Critical caveats when considering apps:

• Verify the app developer has formal hypnosis training - 80% do not 1
• Look for apps with published clinical trial data - only 4 apps have this 1
• Apps targeting sleep, relaxation, and stress are most common (56%, 54.8%, and 36.9% respectively) but lack validation 1
• One preliminary survey of the Finito smoking cessation app showed 50.8% quit smoking and 25.8% reduced smoking, but this was uncontrolled survey data 5

Practical Considerations

The British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines note that barriers to hypnotherapy access include cost and therapist availability 4. While apps theoretically address these barriers, the current evidence shows:

• Group hypnotherapy may be more cost-effective than apps while maintaining therapeutic quality 4
• Video consultation platforms preserve the therapeutic relationship that appears critical for optimal outcomes 3
• Apps lack the ability to tailor treatment to individual symptom profiles, which is a key strength of therapist-delivered hypnotherapy 4

Bottom line: Apps are not yet equivalent to face-to-face treatment. If face-to-face or video-delivered hypnotherapy by a trained therapist is accessible, choose that option. Apps may serve as a last resort when no other options exist, but select only those with documented training credentials and clinical trial evidence 1, 3.