Reconditioning the stress response with hypnosis CD reduces the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and influences resilience: a pilot study. The impact of self-hypnosis and Johrei on lymphocyte subpopulations at exam time: a controlled study Hypnotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy of acute stress disorder: a 3-year follow-up. Psychosocial and Immune Effects of Self-Hypnosis Training for Stress Management Throughout the First Semester of Medical School Breast Biopsy: The Effects of Hypnosis and Music The additive benefit of hypnosis and cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating acute stress disorder. Psychological approaches during conscious sedation. Hypnosis versus stress reducing strategies: a prospective randomized study Clinical hypnosis versus cognitive behavioral training for pain management with pediatric cancer patients undergoing bone marrow aspirations. Cellular and humoral immunity, mood and exam stress: the influences of self-hypnosis and personality predictors. Augmenting cognitive processing therapy to improve sleep impairment in PTSD: A randomized controlled trial. THE EFFICACY OF HYPNOTIC ANALGESIA IN ADULTS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. The Effects of a Cognitive‐Behavioral Treatment Program on Temporo‐Mandibular Pain and Dysfunction Syndrome The Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Hypnotherapy Hypnosis Antenatal Training for Childbirth (HATCh): a randomised controlled trial [NCT00282204] The Beneficial Effect of Hypnosis in Elective Cardiac Surgery: A Preliminary Study. Hypnosis and autogenic training in the treatment of tension headaches: a two-phase constructive design study with follow-up. A Pilot Study of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Patients with Psoriasis
AIM The aim of this investigation was to measure the impact of a self-administered hypnosis intervention on resilience and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 . METHOD Over a period of 12 weeks , 11 participants listened to a self-administered hypnosis stress reduction program design ed to recondition and improve participants ' emotional and physical reactions to perceived work and life stressors . Subjects were administered subjective measures of coping , resilience , and stress tolerance , as well as , IL-6 , an objective blood measure of inflammatory activity . RESULTS After 12 weeks , participants were observed to have a significantly lower IL-6 serum level from baseline . Further , participants reported a significant decrease in the use of negative appraisal coping ( such as , self-deprecating statements , perfectionism , and catastrophic and pessimistic thinking ) , and an improvement in eating/nutritional habits following the intervention . Baseline eating/nutritional habits and threat minimization coping significantly predicted a change in serum IL-6 over the course of the intervention in stepwise hierarchical regression analyses . CONCLUSION Pilot study provides support that a brief self-administered CD hypnosis stress reduction program can modify a physiological measure of inflammation ( IL-6 ) , and improve coping and resilience in the face of work and life stress In a prospect i ve r and omised controlled trial , 48 students were r and omly assigned to stress reduction training before exams with self-hypnosis , Johrei or a mock neurofeedback relaxation control .  Peripheral blood lymphocyte sub population s and self-reported stress ( Perceived Stress Scale ) were measured before training and 1 - 2 months later as exams approached . Absolute number and percentages of CD3(+)CD4(+ ) and CD3(+)CD8(+ ) T lymphocytes , CD3(-)CD56(+ ) Natural Killer cells ( NK cells ) and NK cell cytotoxic activity was measured from venous blood . Stressed participants showed small but significant declines in both CD3(-)CD56(+ ) NK cell percentages and NK cell cytotoxic activity levels while CD3(+)CD4(+ ) T cell percentages increased , changes supported by correlations with perceived stress . The effects of stress were moderated in those who learned Johrei at exam time ; 11/12 showed increases in CD3(-)CD56(+ ) NK cell percentages with decreased percentages of CD3(+)CD4(+ ) T cells , effects not seen in the relaxation control group . Stress was also buffered in those who learned and practised self-hypnosis in whom CD3(-)CD56(+ ) NK cell and CD3(+)CD4(+ ) T cell levels were maintained , and whose CD3(+)CD8(+ ) T cell percentages , shown previously to decline with exams , increased . The results compliment beneficial effects on mood of self-hypnosis and Johrei . The results are in keeping with beneficial influences of self-hypnosis and provide the first evidence of the suggestive value of the Japanese Johrei procedure for stress reduction , which clearly warrants further investigation The long-term benefits of cognitive behaviour therapy ( CBT ) for trauma survivors with acute stress disorder were investigated by assessing patients 3 years after treatment . Civilian trauma survivors ( n=87 ) were r and omly allocated to six sessions of CBT , CBT combined with hypnosis , or supportive counselling ( SC ) , 69 completed treatment , and 53 were assessed 2 years post-treatment for  post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale . In terms of treatment completers , 2 CBT patients ( 10 % ) , 4 CBT/hypnosis patients ( 22 % ) , and 10 SC patients ( 63 % ) met PTSD criteria at 2-years follow-up . Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that 12 CBT patients ( 36 % ) , 14 CBT/hypnosis patients ( 46 % ) , and 16 SC patients ( 67 % ) met PTSD criteria at 2-year follow-up . Patients who received CBT and CBT/hypnosis reported less re-experiencing and less avoidance symptoms than patients who received SC . These findings point to the long-term benefits of early provision of CBT in the initial month after trauma This study was a 19-week prospect i ve conducted to determine the effectiveness of a self-hypnosis/relaxation intervention to relieve symptoms of psychological distress and moderate immune system reactivity to examination stress in 35 first-year medical students . Twenty-one subjects were r and omly selected for training in the use of self-hypnosis as a coping skill and were encouraged to practice regularly and to maintain daily diary records related to mood , sleep , physical symptoms , and frequency of relaxation practice . An additional 14 subjects received no explicit training in stress-reduction strategies , but completed similar daily diaries . Self-report psychosocial and symptom measures , as well as blood draws , were obtained at four time points : orientation , late semester , examination period , and postsemester recovery . It was found that significant increases in stress and fatigue occurred during the examination period , paralleled by increases in counts of B lymphocytes and activated T lymphocytes , PHA-induced and PWM-induced blastogenesis , and natural killer cell ( NK ) cytotoxicity . No immune decreases were observed . Subjects in the self-hypnosis condition reported significantly less distress and anxiety than their nonintervention counterparts , but the two groups did not differ with respect to immune function . Nevertheless , within the self-hypnosis group , the quality of the exercises ( ie , relaxation ratings ) predicted both the number of NK cells and NK activity . It was concluded that stress associated with academic dem and s affects immune function , but immune suppression is not inevitable . Practice of self-hypnosis reduces distress , without differential immune effects . However , individual responses to the self-hypnosis intervention appear to predict immune outcomes Abstract The authors evaluated the efficacies of audio-recorded hypnosis with background music and music without hypnosis in the reduction of emotional and physical disturbances in patients scheduled for breast biopsy in comparison with a control group . A total of 75 patients were r and omly assigned to 3 different groups and evaluated at baseline and before and after breast biopsy using visual analog scales of stress , pain , depression , anxiety , fatigue , optimism , and general well-being . The results showed that , before breast biopsy , the music group presented less stress and anxiety , whereas the hypnosis with music group presented reduced stress , anxiety , and depression and increased optimism and general well-being . After the biopsy , the music group presented less anxiety and pain , whereas the hypnosis group showed less anxiety and increased optimism This research represents the first controlled treatment study of hypnosis and cognitive- behavioral therapy ( CBT ) of acute stress disorder ( ASD ) . Civilian trauma survivors ( N=87 ) who met criteria for ASD were r and omly allocated to 6 sessions of CBT , CBT combined with hypnosis ( CBT-hypnosis ) , or supportive counseling ( SC ) . CBT comprised exposure , cognitive restructuring , and anxiety management . CBT-hypnosis comprised the CBT components with each imaginal exposure preceded by a hypnotic induction and suggestions to engage fully in the exposure . In terms of treatment completers ( n=69 ) , fewer participants in the CBT and CBT-hypnosis groups met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder at posttreatment and 6-month follow-up than those in the SC group . CBT-hypnosis result ed in greater reduction in reexperiencing symptoms at posttreatment than CBT . These findings suggest that hypnosis may have use in facilitating the treatment effects of CBT for posttraumatic stress & NA ; Stress reducing strategies are useful in patients undergoing surgery .  Hypnosis is also known to alleviate acute and chronic pain . We therefore compared the effectiveness of these two psychological approaches for reducing perioperative discomfort during conscious sedation for plastic surgery . Sixty patients scheduled for elective plastic surgery under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation ( midazolam and alfentanil upon request ) were included in the study after providing informed consent . They were r and omly allocated to either stress reducing strategies ( control : CONT ) or hypnosis ( HYP ) during the entire surgical procedure . Both techniques were performed by the same anesthesiologist ( MEF ) . Patient behavior was noted during surgery by a psychologist , the patient noted anxiety , pain , perceived control before , during and after surgery , and postoperative nausea and vomiting ( PONV ) . Patient satisfaction and surgical conditions were also recorded . Peri‐ and postoperative anxiety and pain were significantly lower in the HYP group . This reduction in anxiety and pain were achieved despite a significant reduction in intraoperative requirements for midazolam and alfentanil in the HYP group ( alfentanil : 8.7±0.9 & mgr;g kg−1/h−1 vs. 19.4±2 & mgr;g kg−1/h−1 , P<0.001 ; midazolam : 0.04±0.003 mg kg−1/h−1 vs. 0.09±0.01 mg kg−1/h−1 , P<0.001 ) . Patients in the HYP group reported an impression of more intraoperative control than those in the CONT group ( P<0.01 ) . PONV were significantly reduced in the HYP group ( 6.5 % vs. 30.8 % , P<0.001 ) . Surgical conditions were better in the HYP group . Less signs of patient discomfort and pain were observed by the psychologist in the HYP group ( P<0.001 ) . Vital signs were significantly more stable in the HYP group . Patient satisfaction score was significantly higher in the HYP group ( P<0.004 ) . This study suggests that hypnosis provides better perioperative pain and anxiety relief , allows for significant reductions in alfentanil and midazolam requirements , and improves patient satisfaction and surgical conditions as compared with conventional stress reducing strategies support in patients receiving conscious sedation for plastic surgery A r and omized controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of clinical hypnosis versus cognitive behavioral ( CB ) coping skills training in alleviating the pain and distress of 30 pediatric cancer patients ( age 5 to 15 years ) undergoing bone marrow aspirations . Patients were r and omized to one of three groups : hypnosis , a package of CB coping skills , and no intervention . Patients who received either hypnosis or CB reported less pain and pain-related anxiety than did control patients and less pain and anxiety than at their own baseline . Hypnosis and CB were similarly effective in the relief of pain . Results also indicated that children reported more anxiety and exhibited more behavioral distress in the CB group than in the hypnosis group . It is concluded that hypnosis and CB coping skills are effective in preparing pediatric oncology patients for bone marrow aspiration The effects of self-hypnosis training on immune function and mood were examined in medical students at exam time . Hypnosis involved relaxation and imagery directed at improved immune function and increased energy , alertness and concentration . Hypotheses were made about activated and withdrawn personality differences . Eight high and eight low hypnotically susceptible participants were given 10 sessions of hypnosis  , one live and nine tape-recorded , and were compared with control subjects ( N=12 ) .  CD3 , CD4 , CD8 , CD19 and CD56 NK cells and blood cortisol were assayed . Life-style , activated vs. withdrawn temperament , arousal and anxiety question naires were administered . Self-hypnosis buffered the decline found in controls in NK ( P<0.002 ) and CD8 cells ( P<0.0.07 ) and CD8/CD4 % ( P<0.06 ) ( 45 - 35 % order of magnitude differences ) while there was an increase in cortisol ( P<0.05 ) . The change in NK cell counts correlated positively with changes in both CD8 cells and cortisol . Results were independent of changes in life-style . Energy ratings were higher after hypnosis ( P<0.01 ) , and increased calmness with hypnosis correlated with an increase in CD4 counts ( P<0.01 ) . The activated temperament , notably the cognitive subscale ( speaking and thinking quickly ) , was predictive of exam levels of T and B lymphocytes ( P&z . Lt;0.08-P<0.02 ) , and reaching r=0.72 ( P<0.001 ) in the non-intervention control group . The sizeable influences on cell-mediated immunity achieved by a relatively brief , low cost psychological intervention in the face of a compelling , but routine , stress in young , healthy adults have implication s for illness prevention and for patients with compromised immunity OBJECTIVE Despite the success of empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , sleep impairment frequently remains refractory after treatment . This single-site , r and omized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of sleep-directed hypnosis as a complement to an empirically supported psychotherapy for PTSD ( cognitive processing therapy [ CPT ] ) . METHOD Participants completed either 3 weeks of hypnosis  ( n = 52 ) or a symptom monitoring control condition ( n = 56 ) before beginning st and ard CPT . Multilevel modeling was used to investigate differential patterns of change to determine whether hypnosis result ed in improvements in sleep , PTSD , and depression . An intervening variable approach was then used to determine whether improvements in sleep achieved during hypnosis augmented change in PTSD and depression during CPT . RESULTS After the initial phase of treatment ( hypnosis or symptom monitoring ) , the hypnosis condition showed significantly greater improvement than the control condition in sleep and depression , but not PTSD . After CPT , both conditions demonstrated significant improvement in sleep and PTSD ; however , the hypnosis condition demonstrated greater improvement in depressive symptoms . As sleep improved , there were corresponding improvements in PTSD and depression , with a stronger relationship between sleep and PTSD . CONCLUSION Hypnosis was effective in improving sleep impairment , but those improvements did not augment gains in PTSD recovery during the trauma-focused intervention . ( PsycINFO Data base This article both summarizes the previous review s of r and omized , controlled trials of hypnotic analgesia for the treatment of chronic and acute pain in adults , and review s similar trials which have recently been published in the scientific literature . The results indicate that for both chronic and acute pain conditions : ( 1 ) hypnotic analgesia consistently results in greater decreases in a variety of pain outcomes compared to no treatment/st and ard care ; ( 2 ) hypnosis frequently out-performs non-hypnotic interventions ( e.g. education , supportive therapy ) in terms of reductions in pain-related outcomes ; and ( 3 ) hypnosis performs similarly to treatments that contain hypnotic elements ( such as progressive muscle relaxation ) , but is not surpassed in efficacy by these alternative treatments . Factors that may influence the efficacy of hypnotic analgesia interventions are discussed , including , but not limited to , the patient 's level of suggestibility , treatment outcome expectancy , and provider expertise . Based upon this body of literature , suggestions are offered for practitioners who are using , or would like to use , hypnosis for the amelioration of pain problems in their patients or clients This study investigated the effects of hypnosis as a treatment for  weight loss among women . The sample consisted of 60 women between the ages of 20 and 65 who were at least 20 % overweight and were not in any other treatment program . Six client variables ( suggestibility , self-concept , quality of family origin , age of obesity onset , education level , and socioeconomic status ) and one process variable ( multi-modal imagery ) were analyzed in relation to the dependent variable ( weight loss ) . Two experimental groups , hypnosis plus audiotapes ( Hy-T ) and hypnosis without audiotapes ( Hy ) , and the control group ( Cont ) were investigated for weight loss immediately after treatment and again after a 6-month follow-up . The primary hypothesis that hypnosis is an effective treatment for weight loss was confirmed , but the seven concomitant variables and the use of audiotapes were not significant contributors to weight loss & NA ; Sixty‐one patients clearly diagnosed as suffering from Temporo‐M and ibular Pain and Dysfunction Syndrome ( TMPDS ) were r and omly assigned to one of three groups , 1 ) hypnosis and cognitive coping skills , 2 ) relaxation and cognitive coping skills , or 3 ) a no‐treatment control group . All patients were evaluated with a st and ard hypnotic susceptibility scale before treatment . The two treatment groups received four weekly sessions of their respective treatments . Patients in the hypnosis and relaxation groups reported equivalent decrements in pain , abnormal sounds in the temporom and ibular joint , and limitations of jaw mobility . Hypnotic susceptibility was significantly correlated with reductions in reported pain for the treatment groups . Patients ' age and the duration of pain before treatment were not related to treatment outcome . Patients who dropped out of treatment had fewer limitations in jaw movement but did not differ in any other variable from patients who remained in treatment . These findings are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that Temporo‐M and ibular Pain and Dysfunction Syndrome is stress‐related muscular pain and dysfunction Previous research from the United Kingdom has shown hypnotherapy to be effective in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS ) . The current study provides a systematic replication of this work in the United States . Six matched pairs of IBS patients were r and omly assigned to either a gut-directed hypnotherapy ( n=6 ) or to a symptom monitoring wait-list control condition ( n=6 ) in a multiple baseline across subjects design . Those assigned to the control condition were later crossed over to the treatment condition . Subjects were matched on concurrent psychiatric diagnoses , susceptibility to hypnosis , and various demographic features . On a composite measure of primary IBS symptoms , treatment was superior ( p=.016 ) to symptom monitoring . Results from the entire treated sample ( n=11 ; one subject was removed from analysis ) indicate that the individual symptoms of abdominal pain , constipation , and flatulence improved significantly . State and trait anxiety scores were also seen to decrease significantly . Results at the 2-month follow-up point indicated good maintenance of treatment gains . No significant correlation was found between initial susceptibility to hypnosis and treatment gain . A positive relationship was found between the incidence of psychiatric diagnosis and overall level of improvement Background Although medical interventions play an important role in preserving lives and maternal comfort they have become increasingly routine in normal childbirth . This may increase the risk of associated complications and a less satisfactory birth experience . Antenatal hypnosis is associated with a reduced need for pharmacological interventions during childbirth . This trial seeks to determine the efficacy or otherwise of antenatal group hypnosis preparation for childbirth in late pregnancy . Methods / design A single centre , r and omised controlled trial using a 3 arm parallel group design in the largest tertiary maternity unit in South Australia . Group 1 participants receive antenatal hypnosis training in preparation for childbirth administered by a qualified hypnotherapist with the use of an audio compact disc on hypnosis for re-enforcement ; Group 2 consists of antenatal hypnosis training in preparation for childbirth using an audio compact disc on hypnosis administered by a nurse with no training in hypnotherapy ; Group 3 participants  continue with their usual preparation for childbirth with no additional intervention . Women > 34 and < 39 weeks gestation , planning a vaginal birth , not in active labour , with a singleton , viable fetus of vertex presentation , are eligible to participate . Allocation concealment is achieved using telephone r and omisation . Participants assigned to hypnosis groups commence hypnosis training as near as possible to 37 weeks gestation . Treatment allocations are concealed from treating obstetricians , anaesthetists , midwives and those personnel collecting and analysing data . Our sample size of 135 women/group gives the study 80 % power to detect a clinical ly relevant fall of 20 % in the number of women requiring pharmacological analgesia – the primary endpoint . We estimate that approximately 5–10 % of women will deliver prior to receiving their allocated intervention . We plan to recruit 150 women/group and perform sequential interim analyses when 150 and 300 participants have been recruited . All participant data will be analysed , by a research er blinded to treatment allocation , according to the " Intention to treat " principle with comprehensive pre-planned cost- benefit and subgroup analyses . Discussion If effective , hypnosis would be a simple , inexpensive way to improve the childbirth experience , reduce complications associated with pharmacological interventions , yield cost savings in maternity care , and this trial will provide evidence to guide clinical practice Background Single-session hypnosis has never been evaluated as a premedication technique in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) . The aim of the present study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of clinical hypnotherapy on perioperative anxiety , pain perception , sedation , and necessity for ventilator assistance in patients undergoing CABG . Methods Double-blind , r and omized , clinical trial was performed . Forty-four patients undergoing CABG surgery were r and omized into two groups . The patients in group A received preprocedural hypnosis by an anesthesiologist . Patients in group B ( control ) had only information on the surgical intervention by the same anesthesiologist .  State-Trait-Anxiety Index-I ( STAI-I ) and Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) were performed preoperatively in both groups . Visual analog scale ( VAS ) and Ramsay sedation scale ( RSS ) were evaluated on 0th , 1st , 2nd , 4th , 6th , 8th , 10th , 12th , and 24th hours , postoperatively . Postoperative anxiety level , analgesic drug consumption , and duration of ventilator assistance and intensive care unit ( ICU ) stay were also documented . Results When anxiety and depression levels were compared , significantly lower STA-I and BDI values were detected in group A after hypnotherapy ( p = 0.001 , p = 0.001 , respectively ) . Significantly less total doses of remifentanil  ( 34.4 ± 11.4 vs. 50.0 ± 13.6 mg ) and morphine ( 4.9 ± 3.3 vs. 13.6 ± 2.7 mg ) were administered in group A in the postoperative period . Ventilator assistance duration ( 6.8 ± 2.0 vs. 8.9 ± 2.7 hours ) was also shorter in group A when compared with that in group B ( p = 0.007 ) . Conclusion Hypnosis session prior to surgery was an effective complementary method in decreasing presurgical anxiety , and it result ed in better pain control as well as reduced ventilator assistance following CABG surgery Tension  headaches  can form a chronic ( very long duration ) condition . EMG biofeedback , relaxation training and analgesia by hypnotic suggestion can reduce the pain . So far , no differences have been demonstrated between the effects of various psychological treatments . In a constructively design ed study , we firstly compared an abbreviated form of autogenic training to a form of hypnotherapy ( future oriented hypnotic imagery ) which was not presented as hypnosis and secondly we compared both treatments to the same future oriented hypnotic imagery , but this time explicitly presented as hypnosis . The three treatments were equally effective at post-treatment , but after a 6-month follow-up period , the future oriented hypnotic imagery which had been explicitly presented as hypnosis was superior to autogenic training . Contrary to common belief , it could be demonstrated that the therapists were as effective with the treatment modality they preferred as with the treatment modality they felt to be less remedial Background : The use of psychological therapies for patients with psoriasis has been proposed based on observations that the severity of their disease may correlate with emotional stress . The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of hypnosis as a treatment modality for patients with psoriasis . Methods : We performed a 3-month r and omized , single-blind , controlled trial of the use of hypnosis in adults with stable , chronic , plaque-type psoriasis . Highly or moderately hypnotizable subjects were r and omized to receive either hypnosis with active suggestions of improvement ( 5 patients ) or neutral hypnosis with no mention of their disease process ( 6 patients ) . After this period , the study was unblinded , and all the patients were treated for an additional 3 months with hypnosis with active suggestions of improvement . Results : Highly hypnotizable subjects showed significantly greater improvement than did moderately hypnotizable subjects , independent of treatment group assignment ( active suggestion or neutral hypnosis ) . Conclusion : Although this study included a very limited number of patients , the results suggest that hypnosis may be a useful therapeutic modality for highly hypnotizable subjects with psoriasis , and merits further testing in a larger patient population
Conclusions Due to exploratory design s and high risk of bias , the effectiveness of hypnosis or hypnotherapy in stress reduction remains still unclear .
Background Although hypnosis and hypnotherapy have become more popular in recent years , the evidence for hypnosis to influence perceived stress is unclear .
In this systematic review we search ed and evaluated r and omized clinical studies investigating the effect of hypnosis on perceived stress reduction and coping .