Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis – The Evidence

Asthma:
Over a six year period, 173 patients with asthma were treated using self-hypnosis. 82% were either significantly improved or experienced total remission of symptoms.
From 'Hypnosis and Autohypnosis for the Treatment of Asthma' by Maher-Loughnan in the 'International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis', 1970.

Cancer:
Adult cancer patients placed under hypnosis show fewer cancer-related symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and pain, said Dr Liossi. "There are some studies and there are some encouraging results from these that hypnosis can probably improve the survival of cancer patients. But at the moment there isn't enough evidence."
BBC News reporting on research being presented to the BA Festival of Science by Dr Christina Liossi, from University of Wales, Swansea, 2004.

"Psychology is becoming a key part of cancer services," she said. She added that research was increasingly showing that hypnosis could improve cancer results.
BBC News reporting the reflections of Phyllis Alden, consultant psychologist in the department of clinical oncology at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, 2004.

A review panel appointed by the National Institutes of Health found "strong evidence" for the use of hypnosis in alleviating pain associated with cancer.
From 'Journal of the American Medical Association', 1996.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
A study of more than 200 patients with IBS showed that hypnotherapy helps to relieve the cramping, bloating, diarrhea or constipation caused by the syndrome. Dr.Wendy Gonsalkorale, of the Withington Hospital in Manchester, England, found that patients who had undergone hypnosis reported an improvement in symptoms, a decrease in anxiety and depression, a better quality of life and a reduction in their need for medication. It was established that 71 percent of patients responded well to the treatment of twelve one hour sessions and for most the positive effects did not diminish over time.
From 'Gut', October 2003

A study of 12 patients with IBS showed that treatment with hypnotherapy resulted in significant improvement in symptoms and a reduction in related anxieties.
From 'The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with hypnotherapy.' by Galovski, T.E., and E.B. Blanchard in 'Applied Psychophysiology & Feedback', 1998.

A study of 18 adults with IBS found that hypnosis "strikingly" reduced colonic motility, thus decreasing diarrhea and cramping.
From 'The Lancet', 1992.

Medical Procedures:
Dr. Lisa D. Butler of Stanford University School of Medicine has found that self-hypnosis can relieve distress in children undergoing an uncomfortable medical procedure known as a voiding cystourethrogram. "Hypnosis can provide an effective noninvasive (and nonsedating) method for reducing distress and resistance associated with VCUG procedures (and perhaps other painful or anxiety-provoking medical procedures) for children, as well as decreasing staff time and strain in administering such procedures," said Dr Butler.
From 'Reuters Health', January 2005.

Giving patients a form of hypnosis helps them cope better with the pain and anxiety of minor operations, doctors have found. Patients instructed in self-hypnotic relaxation had less pain, needed less pain-killing drugs and had better control over their blood pressure.
BBC news reporting on a study in the use of self hypnosis carried out by Elvira Lang and colleagues from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Boston, USA in 2004.

"Our study provides support for the use of hypnosis to aid in preparation of obstetric patients for labour and delivery. The reduction of complications, surgery, and hospital stay show direct medical benefit to mother and child and suggest the potential for a corresponding cost-saving benefit."
From 'Effects of Hypnosis on the Labor Processes and Birth Outcomes of Pregnant Adolescents' in 'Journal of Family Practice', 2001.

A controlled study of 32 coronary bypass patients has shown that those taught self-hypnosis pre-operatively are more relaxed following surgery and have less need for pain medication.
From 'Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery', 1997.
 

Pain:
Children who had been hypnotised in trials reported they had less pain from medical procedures as well as cancer-related pain ... Dr Liossi suggested there was even evidence that hypnosis might prolong life in adult cancer patients. "There are some studies and there are some encouraging results from these," she said.
BBC News reporting on research being presented to the BA Festival of Science by Dr Christina Liossi, from University of Wales, Swansea, 2004.

20 women undergoing excisional breast biopsies were randomly assigned to a hypnosis or control group (standard care). It was established that hypnosis reduced postsurgery pain and distress. Initial evidence also suggested that the effects of hypnosis were mediated by presurgery expectations.
From 'Brief Presurgery Hypnosis Reduces Distress and Pain in Excisional Breast Biopsy Patients' by Guy H. Montgomery, Christina R. Weltz, Megan Seltz, and Dana H. Bovbjerg in 'The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis', January 2002.

A 12 week study was undertaken to establish whether 5 adult patients with various AIDS-related pain symptoms benefited from a hypnosis-based pain management approach. All 5 patients showed significant improvement as a result of the hypnotic intervention. Four of the 5 patients reported using significantly less pain medication during the treatment phase.
From 'Hypnosis for the Control of HIV/AIDS-Related Pain' by Mark Christopher Langenfeld, Ennio Cipani, and Jeffrey J. Borckardt in 'The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis', April 2002.

"In addition to the treatment of psychiatric disabilities, there is a place for hypnotism in the production of anaesthesia or analgesia for surgical and dental operations, and in suitable subjects it is an effective method of relieving pain in childbirth without altering the normal course of labour."
From 'Medical Use of Hypnotism’ in the British Medical Journal, 1955.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:
In a large Army hospital during World War II, a full-time program in hypnotherapy for battle trauma cases (PTSD) was developed. Symptoms included severe anxiety, phobias, conversions, hysterias, and dissociations. Many hypnoanalytic techniques were used and were frequently found to result in good outcomes. There was no evidence that the abreactive procedure tended to retraumatize patients or initiate psychotic reactions.
From 'The psychodynamic treatment of combat neuroses (PTSD) with hypnosis during World War II' by John D. Watkins in 'The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis', July 2000.

Pregnancy and Childbirth:
Research on 600 women who had each received five short hypnosis treatments noted a virtual absence of postpartum depression. Even women with a history of postpartum depression did not develop this condition.
From 'Hypnosis in obstetrics' by McCarthy in 'Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis', 1998.

A study identified reduction in anxiety, greater satisfaction with labour and a shortening of the first stage of labour is achievable through the use of hypnosis.
From 'Comparison of hypnosis with conventional relaxation for antenatal and intrapartum use: A feasibility study in general practice.' by Brann and Guzvica in 'J R Coll Gen Pract', 1987.

In a study of 60 women Harmon, Hynan and Tyre reported higher Apgar scores and reduced medication use through the use of hypnosis. Additionally, the rate of spontaneous birth (no caesarian, forceps or vacuum interventions) was found to be significantly increased.
From 'Improved obstetric outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skill mastery combined with childbirth education.' by Harmon, Hynan, and Tyre in the 'Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology', 1990.

Davison established a statistically significant reduction in the length of labour of first and second time mothers using hypnosis. On average this amounted to three hours less in labour.
From 'An assessment of the value of hypnosis in pregnancy and labour.' by Davison, in the 'British Medical Journal',1962.


Sexual Conditions:
A controlled study of 79 men with impotence from no known organic cause found only hypnosis proved more effective than a placebo, boosting sexual function by 80 percent.
From 'British Journal of Urology', 1996.

In a study of 189 people experiencing sexual problems of a psychological nature, it was found that self-hypnosis combined with cognitive therapy was more effective than cognitive therapy alone. Using self-hypnosis, clients required fewer sessions, experienced less relapses and expressed greater satisfaction with the overall outcome of their therapy.
From 'Self-Hypnosis in Sexual Functioning' by Carrese & Araoz in the 'Australian Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy & Hypnosis", 1998.


Skin Conditions:
A wide spectrum of dermatologic disorders may be improved or cured using hypnosis as an alternative or complementary therapy, including acne excoriee, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, dyshidrotic dermatitis, erythromelalgia, furuncles, glossodynia, herpes simplex, hyperhidrosis, ichthyosis vulgaris, lichen planus, neurodermatitis, nummular dermatitis, postherpetic neuralgia, pruritus, psoriasis, rosacea, trichotillomania, urticaria, verruca vulgaris, and vitiligo.
From 'Hypnosis in dermatology' by PD Shenefelt in 'Arch Dermatol', 2000

Researchers at the Department of Dermatology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA carried out a three month study into the use of hypnotherapy in adults suffering with stable, chronic, plaque-type psoriasis. The researchers found hypnosis to be an effective treatment of psoriasis with the highly hypnotisable patients receiving greater benefit than those who were only moderately hypnotisable.
From 'A pilot study of hypnosis in the treatment of patients with psoriasis' by Tausk F; Whitmore SE in 'Psychother Psychosom', 1999


Smoking:
21 patients received individualised hypnosis for smoking cessation over three sessions. 81% reported they had stopped smoking completely and 48% reported abstinence for at least 12 months post-treatment. 95% of patients were satisfied with the treatment they received.
From 'Clinical Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation: Prelimimary Results of a Three-Session Intervention' by Gary R. Elkins and M. Hasan Rajab in 'The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis', January 2004.


Stress and Anxiety:
The use of self-hypnosis and relaxation therapy in managing anxiety (including test anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, simple phobia and panic disorder) was shown to deliver positive results within 28 days. Self-hypnosis was found to lead to greater confidence in the effectiveness of the treatment, a higher expectation of success and greater degrees of mental and physical improvement.
From 'Treating Anxiety with Self-hypnosis and Relaxation' by Lucy O'Neill, Amanda Barnier, & Kevin McConkey, in 'Contemporary Hypnosis', 1999.

A research study involving over 100 patients experiencing stress-related conditions found that 75% felt their symptoms were improving after 12 weeks of self-hypnosis practice. 72% of the group reported complete remission of their symptoms within one year.
From 'Hypnosis: Clinical Application of Hypnosis in Medicine' by Maher-Loughnan in the 'British Journal of Hospital Medicine', 1980.

The British Medical Association has concluded that hypnotherapy is not only effective but may be 'the treatment of choice' in dealing with anxiety and stress-related disorders. It was found that "... it has proved its ability to remove symptoms and to alter morbid habits of thought and behaviour."
From 'Medical Use of Hypnotism’ in the British Medical Journal, 1955.


Weight Management:
Research into cognitive-behavioural weight loss treatments established that weight loss is greater where hypnosis is utilised. It was also established that the benefits of hypnosis increase over time.
From 'Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments--Another meta-reanalysis’ by Kirsch and Irving in 'Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology', 1996.

A study of 60 females who were at least 20% overweight and not involved in other treatment showed hypnosis is an effective way to lose weight.
From 'Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment’ by Cochrane, Gordon and Friesen in 'Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology', 1986.

109 people completed a behavioral treatment for weight management either with or without the addition of hypnosis. At the end of the 9-week program, both interventions resulted in significant weight reduction. At 8-month and 2-year follow-ups, the hypnosis subjects were found to have continued to lose significant weight, while those in the behavioral-treatment-only group showed little further change.
From 'Effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavioral weight management’ by Bolocofsky, Spinler and Coulthard-Morris in 'The Journal of Clinical Psychology', 1985.


Further Evidence on the Effectiveness of Hypnosis:
"Hypnosis is now being used to treat a wide variety of conditions in the NHS, including pain relief, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression. Dentists are also using it to help patients who have a phobia for the dentist's chair."
BBC News reporting the reflections of Phyllis Alden, consultant psychologist in the department of clinical oncology at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, 2004.

Hypnosis has been found to have an observable effect on the human brain, "Individuals who are highly susceptible to being placed under hypnosis show that there are changes in the left frontal cortex of the brain and a structure called the cingulated gyrus when viewed through a functional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner. The frontal lobe is concerned with our planning, our future actions, our analysis of the here and now, our critical evaluation and the things we do so we don't make silly mistakes..."
BBC News reporting on the work of Dr John Gruzelier of Imperial College, London, 2004.

Researchers at a Harvard University medical facility separately hypnotized eight people as they lay in a scanning machine that recorded activity in their brains. These subjects then tried to drain bright color from pictures they were viewing, or to see color where none existed. They also attempted to do the same thing when not hypnotized. The records of cerebral activity clearly show that hypnosis can change the state of the brain. Stephen Kosslyn, professor of psychology at Harvard and leader of the study concludes "What we have shown for the first time is that hypnosis changes conscious experience in a way not possible when we are not under hypnosis."
From 'Hypnosis found to alter the brain: Subjects see color where none exists' by William J. Cromie in 'Harvard University Gazette', August 2001.

Self hypnosis was found to positively influence post-traumatic stress disorder, public speaking anxieties, phobias, panic disorder, chronic pain, habit disorders (smoking, over-eating, alcoholism and drug addiction), hypertension, cancer, tinnitus, enuresis, insomnia, depression and the process of mourning.
From 'Treating Anxiety with Self-hypnosis and Relaxation' by Lucy O'Neill, Amanda Barnier, & Kevin McConkey, in 'Contemporary Hypnosis', 1999.

A BMJ review of reports on hypnosis and relaxation therapies concluded that hypnosis is of value in treating irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia and asthma. It was also found to be an effective treatment for acute or chronic pain.
From ‘Hypnosis and Relaxation Therapies’ by Vickers & Zollman in the 'British Medical Journal', 1999.