Medical hypnotherapy is used at some of the most prestigious medical centers including The Mayo Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins.
Published studies suggest that Hypnotherapy may be effective for some patients with Allergies, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Arthritis, Asthma, Bone Fracture Healing, Burns, Cancer Pain, Cancer Support, Cancer Survival, Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting, Childbirth, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Dermatitis, Drug Abuse, Dyspepsia, Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Hemophilia, Headaches, Hypertension, Impotence, Infertility, Insomnia, Incontinence, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Migraine Headaches, Multiple Sclerosis, Pain, Neuropathic Pain, Peptic Ulcer Disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Smoking Cessation, the Sole Anesthesia for major Surgery, Surgical Recovery, Tinnitus, Weight Loss for Obesity and many other conditions as you can see in the studies below.
In 1970, Alfred A. Barrios, Ph.D. conducted a survey of scientific literature to compare recovery rates for various modalities of therapy:
In a study of 18 volunteers selected for their hypnotisability, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions were suppressed in 8 of the 12.
Many studies have shown a link between the use of hypnotherapy and a changed response to an allergic stimulus or to a lessened bronchial hyperreactivity. Hypnosis and the allergic response. Wyler-Harper J1, Bircher AJ, Langewitz W, Kiss A; Schweiz Med Wochenschr Suppl. 1994;62:67-76.
The hypnotic intervention proved efficacious in all treated patients. It concluded that “Patients and caregivers should be aware that hypnotic interventions conjunctly to training in self-hypnotherapy are relatively easy and inexpensive to provide, and have a plethora of beneficial ‘side effects.’ We hope our findings represent a helpful step in the construction of ‘best clinical practice,’ to better manage psychic and physical plagues imposed by ALS disease to patients and their families.”
Hypnosis-based psychodynamic treatment in ALS: a longitudinal study on patients and their caregivers, Front Psychol. 2015 Jun 16. Johann R. Kleinbub, Arianna Palmieri
The findings provide clear support for the potential efficacy of hypnosis-based intervention to cope with devastating consequences of ALS.
Efficacy of Hypnosis-Based Treatment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Study, Front Psychol. 2012; 3: 465. Arianna Palmieri, Johann Roland Kleinbub
Twelve out of 21 patients, including 4 with a total loss of scalp hair, presented a significant hair growth. All patients presented a significant decrease in scores for anxiety and depression. Although the exact mechanism of hypnotic interventions has not been elucidated, the author’s results demonstrate that hypnotic interventions may ameliorate the clinical outcome of patients with alopecia and may improve their psychological well-being. Hypnotic approaches for alopecia areata. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jul;56(3):318-33. Willemsen R, Vanderlinden
The Arthritis Foundation said, “If you’re looking for a gentle way to reduce the pain that comes with chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA), hypnosis may just do the trick. Studies show that more than 75% of people with arthritis and related diseases experience significant pain relief using hypnosis.” Please click here to see the study
Following Hypnotherapy, patients with arthritis achieved significant decreases in pain, anxiety, and depression, and increases in beta-endorphin-like immunoreactive material. Biochemical correlates of hypnoanalgesia in arthritic pain patients. Domangue, B.B., Margolis, C.G., Lieberman, D. & Kaji, H. (1985). Biochemical Correlates
Decreased rates of hospital admissions, length of stay, and use of corticosteroids were attained with hypnotherapy during the year of study in patients with refractory asthma who served as their own controls. Morrison JB. Chronic asthma and improvement with relaxation induced by hypnotherapy. J R Soc Med. 1988;81:701-704.
Harvard Medical School conducted research on the use of hypnotherapy to enhance the healing of bone fractures. Twelve people with a recent bone fracture were divided into two groups. One group received hypnotherapy and the other group served as control. Both groups received standard orthopedic treatment. The results showed faster healing for the hypnotherapy group. X-rays revealed a notable difference at the edge of the fracture at week 6. The hypnotherapy group also had better mobility, greater functional ability to descend stairs and used fewer painkillers. The researchers conclude by saying that despite a small sample size these data suggest that hypnosis may be capable of enhancing both anatomical and functional fracture healing and that further investigation of hypnosis to accelerate healing is warranted. Ginandes, CS, Rosenthal, DI.1999, Using hypnosis to accelerate the healing of bone fractures: a randomized controlled pilot study, Therapy Health Medicine, March, 5(2), pp.67-75.
Clinical trials have shown significant pain relief with hypnotherapy in patients with burns, many of whom were taught self-hypnosis for pain control. Wakeman JR, Kaplan JZ. An experimental study of hypnosis in painful burns. Am J Clin Hypn. 1978;21:3-12. Patterson DR, Everett JJ, Burns GL, Marvin JA. Hypnosis for the treatment of burn pain. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1992;60:713-717.
A National Institutes of Health panel issued a statement published by the AMA in 1996 indicating that there was “strong evidence for the use of hypnosis in alleviating pain associated with cancer” as you can see here.
Studies are showing that hypnotherapy is a powerful and effective tool in dealing with the physical symptoms of cancer as well as decreasing need for anesthesia during surgery, alleviating pain, nausea, fatigue and emotional distress. Hypnotherapy is also used to modify the course of the disease process itself through the use of imagery. Studies show that during surgery, hypnotized women required 22% less analgesia and 34% less sedation. After surgery, they reported 53% less pain intensity, 46% less fatigue, 47% less discomfort, and 74% less emotional upset. They also spent 11 fewer minutes in surgery, resulting in a cost savings of almost $800.00 per patient. ~Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Despite empirical evidence supporting the use of hypnosis in cancer settings, hypnotherapy has failed to be widely adopted. Hypnotherapy does not appear to be currently popular, and in fact has failed to increase in popularity in the United States over time despite empirical support. Hypnosis for Cancer Care: Over 200 Years Young. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013 Jan; 63(1): 31–44. Guy H. Montgomery, PhD, Julie B. Schnur, PhD, and Kate Kravits, MA, RN.
Patients with metastatic breast cancer benefited from self-hypnosis and from participation in group support. The women benefited with significantly less pain and an increased duration of survival. “Patients with metastatic breast cancer who received weekly group therapy for a year lived significantly longer,….by an average of nearly 18 months.”
Spiegel D, Bloom JR. Group therapy and hypnosis reduce metastatic breast carcinoma pain. Psychosom Med. 1983;45:333-339.
An untapped potential for hypnotherapy for cancer treatment is the reported ability to alter regional blood flow, which offers the prospect of increasing the delivery of chemotherapy to a tumor or reducing blood flow to it. Clawson TA Jr, Swade RH. The hypnotic control of blood flow and pain: the cure of warts and the potential for the use of hypnosis in the treatment of cancer. Am J Clin Hypn. 1975;17:160-169.
Children receiving chemotherapy who were assigned randomly to hypnosis had less anticipatory nausea and vomiting and less vomiting with chemotherapy compared with a control group.Zeltzer LK, Dolgin MJ, LeBaron S, LeBaron C. A randomized, controlled study of behavioral intervention for chemotherapy distress in children with cancer. Pediatrics. 1991;88:34-42.
Pregnant adolescents were assigned randomly to individual sessions of hypnosis or to supportive counseling with the medical staff blinded to their group assignments. At delivery, the hypnotherapy group had a significant decrease in complications, fewer surgical interventions, and a shorter hospital stay. Additional positive findings not statistically significant were a decreased need for anesthesia, postpartum analgesia, and infant admissions to the intensive care unit. Martin AA, Schauble PG, Rai SH, Curry RW Jr. The effects of hypnosis on the labor processes and birth outcomes of pregnant adolescents [published correction appears in J Fam Pract. 2001;50:749]. J Fam Pract. 2001;50:441-443.
“The striking point about the cases reported here is the degree of control facilitated by hypnosis over the feelings of fatigue and myalgia that characterize CFS.”
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE, December 1997;90:682-683
It has been widely shown that hypnotherapy is a useful adjunct in dentistry. However, it is unfortunate that hypnotherapy is not more widely used as it has the potential for making conventional dental management more acceptable and reducing the number of children requiring general anesthesia.
In a meta-analysis of hypnosis in the treatment of depression, hypnotherapy is appeared to significantly improve symptoms of depression. Hypnotherapy appears to be a viable nonpharmacologic intervention for depression.
Twelve out of 21 patients, including 4 with a total loss of scalp hair, presented a significant hair growth. All patients presented a significant decrease in scores for anxiety and depression. Although the exact mechanism of hypnotic interventions has not been elucidated, the results demonstrate that hypnotic interventions may ameliorate the clinical outcome of patients with alopecia and may improve their psychological well-being. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jul;56(3):318-33. Willemsen R, Vanderlinden
Two randomized controlled trials have shown hypnotherapy to be a highly effective treatment for functional dyspepsia and functional chest pain of presumed esophageal origin unresponsive to standard care. In both of these upper gastrointestinal diseases, clinical benefits were well maintained at long-term follow-ups
“Multimodal treatments seem especially promising, with hypnotherapy as an adjunct to insulin treatments in the management of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes for stabilization of blood glucose and decreased peripheral vascular complications.”
“Psychotherapy combined with hypnosis may have contributed to an improvement in glycemic control of the studied diabetic patients.
Hypnotherapy has been used successfully for dermatologic conditions. Patients with atopic dermatitis noted decreased pruritus, scratching, sleep disturbance, and tension after treatment with hypnosis. In many patients, improvements persisted at follow-up evaluations up to 18 months later.
All patients (100%) completely stopped use of any street drugs and results remained stable for 6 months after end of treatment. Group hypnosis treatment of drug addicts; Harefuah. 2008 Aug-Sep;147(8-9):679-83, 751. Kaminsky D, Rosca P [Article in Hebrew]
In a study of 126 patients with functional dyspepsia, those treated with hypnotherapy noted improvement in quality of life and long-term symptoms, fewer physician visits, and less health care spending compared with the group treated with medication.
Calvert EL, Houghton LA, Cooper P, Morris J, Whorwell PJ. Longterm improvement in functional dyspepsia using hypnotherapy. Gastroenterology. 2002;123:1778-1785.
Patients with refractory fibromyalgia (mean duration, 8.5 years) who were randomly assigned to receive hypnosis obtained significant improvement compared with those assigned randomly to physical therapy alone. Benefits included improvements in morning fatigue, sleep, muscle pain, overall assessment, and use of pain medications, with results persisting for at least 6 months. Haanen HC, Hoenderdos HT, van Romunde LK, et al. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of refractory fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1991;18:72-75.
Patients who were assigned to receive hypnotherapy had a significantly decreased need for transfusions compared with controls.
LaBaw W. The use of hypnosis with hemophilia. Psychiatr Med. 1992; 10:89-98.
The hypnotherapy group had a significant reduction in the number, duration, and intensity of headaches. Instruction in self-hypnosis produced significant benefit for tension headaches in other studies including a group of less hypnotizable patients.
In a study involving 44 patients, the hypnosis group had a significant decrease in blood pressure compared with the control group.
A trial involving 44 patients compared Hypnotherapy with biofeedback or a combination of both on patients with hypertension. All groups had a significant reduction in blood pressure. However, at six-month follow-up, the hypnotherapy group had mean decreases of 13.3 mm Hg systolic and 8.5 mm Hg diastolic below their baseline blood pressures. Only patients receiving Hypnosis had maintained the reduction.
Friedman H, Taub HA. A six-month follow-up of the use of hypnosis and biofeedback procedures in essential hypertension. Am J Clin Hypn. 1978; 20:184-188.
A review of the personal experience and techniques of an experienced practitioner cited an 88% success rate using hypnotherapy for impotence in almost 3000 patients.
Crasilneck HB. Hypnotic techniques for smoking control and psychogenic impotence. Am J Clin Hypn. 1990;32:147-153.
A research team from Israel found that 28% of women in a group of 185 who were hypnotized became pregnant, compared with just 14% of those who were not. Ryan, C. BBC News Online. 29th June 2004.
Patients with refractory fibromyalgia (mean duration, 8.5 years) who were randomly assigned to receive hypnotherapy obtained significant improvement compared with those assigned randomly to physical therapy alone. Benefits included improvements in morning fatigue, sleep, muscle pain, overall assessment, and use of pain medications, with results persisting for at least 6 months. Haanen HC, Hoenderdos HT, van Romunde LK, et al. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of refractory fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1991;18:72-75.
50 women served as their own controls. At 1 month, 58% were symptom-free and another 28% were improved, with cystometric testing at 3 months objectively confirming the benefits. Freeman RM, Baxby K. Hypnotherapy for incontinence caused by the unstable detrusor. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1982;284:1831-1834.
A 1984 study in England showed significant benefits from hypnotherapy. Thirty patients with refractory IBS and severe symptoms were randomly assigned to 7 individual sessions of hypnotherapy or psychotherapy plus placebo pills. Although the psychotherapy group showed a small but significant improvement in some characteristics, all patients in the hypnotherapy group had significant improvements in well-being, bowel habits, distension symptoms, and pain, with no relapses at 3-month follow-up.
Whorwell PJ, Prior A, Faragher EB. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome. Lancet. 1984; 2:1232-1234.
Long term (18 months) follow up on 50 patients at the University Hospital of South Manchester showed a response rate of 95% in cases of classical cases of IBS, 43% in atypical cases and 60% in patients with significant psychopathology. Patients over age 50 responded poorly (25% success), but patients below age 50 with classical symptoms had a 100% success rate.
Whorell PJ, Prior A. Gut, 1987, 28, 423-425
For many years Western Medicine has considered the immune system to be separate and independent from the central nervous system. However, significant scientific advances and research discoveries that occurred during the past 50 years have presented additional facts that the immune system does interact with the central nervous system with mutual influence. This article provides a systematic review of the literature on the connection between the brain and the immune system and its clinical implications.
Torem MS. Am J Clin Hypn. 2007 Oct;50(2):157-70. Mind-body hypnotic imagery in the treatment of auto-immune disorders.
Hypnotherapy was compared with propranolol use for children with migraine headaches in a prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Patients taught self-hypnosis had a decreased frequency of headaches. Olness K, MacDonald JT, Uden DL. Comparison of self-hypnosis and propranolol in the treatment of juvenile classic migraine. Pediatrics. 1987;79: 593-597.
Three out of three patients with multiple sclerosis demonstrated improvement either immediately or within several weeks after being treated with hypnotherapy as you can see here. Hypnosis as adjunctive therapy for multiple sclerosis: a progress report. Am J Clin Hypn. 1997 Apr;39(4):283-90. Sutcher H.
This paper quotes extensively from historical examples of the use of hypnotherapy as the sole anesthesia for major surgeries in the 1800s. These historic examples by themselves provide powerful documentation of the ability of the mind to influence the body, but they are then followed by a review of contemporary literature and controlled research on the use in hypnosis in relation to surgery and prior to medical procedures.
Hammond DC; Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):101-21. Hypnosis as sole anesthesia for major surgeries: historical & contemporary perspectives.
The National Institutes of Health panel in the U.S.A. issued a statement published by the American Medical Association in 1996 indicating that there was strong evidence for the use of hypnosis in alleviating pain associated with cancer. NIH Technology Assessment Panel on Integration of Behavioural and Relaxation Approaches into the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia.
Integration of behavioral and relaxation approaches into the treatment of chronic pain and insomnia.
JAMA. 1996;276:313-318.
Hypnotic analgesia is real, no less palpable an analgesic than medication, although the pathways are different and do not seem to involve endogenous opiates. Rather, hypnosis seems to involve brain activation via dopamine pathways. Thus, it is not surprising that hypnosis, which mobilizes attention pathways in the brain, can be used effectively to reduce pain perception and attendant anxiety.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 99, Issue 17, 1280-1281
The researchers found that volunteers under hypnotherapy experienced significant pain reduction in response to painful heat. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), they found a distinctly different pattern of brain activity compared to when they were not hypnotized and experienced the painful heat. The changes in the brain activity suggest that hypnosis somehow blocks the pain signal from getting to the parts of the brain that perceive pain.
November 2004 issue of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. University of Iowa Health Science Relations, 5135 Westlawn, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1178
In a randomized, double-blind (for the use of naloxone) crossover study, patients with neuropathic pain were taught self-hypnosis. Considerable relief from pain was achieved by hypnosis, and this relief was not reversed by administration of naloxone. Spiegel D, Albert LH. Naloxone fails to reverse hypnotic alleviation of chronic pain. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1983;81:140-143.
Twenty volunteers were evaluated for the level of pain caused by 2 different experimentally induced methods and were treated subsequently with hypnosis, acupuncture, medication, or placebo. Hypnotherapy with direct suggestions for pain relief produced significant pain relief compared with placebo and gave the best results of all the treatments. Stern JA, Brown M, Ulett GA, Sletten I. A comparison of hypnosis, acupuncture, morphine, valium, aspirin, and placebo in the management of experimentally induced pain. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1977;296:175-193.
Results of hypnotherapy on a patient with Parkinson’s Disease showed “a 94% reduction in rest tremors following treatment. Self-reported levels of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, pain, stiffness, libido, and quality of life also showed improvements. The patient reported a high level of satisfaction with treatment. Feasibility of clinical hypnosis for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease: a case study. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2013;61(2):172-82. Elkins G, Sliwinski J.
Thirty patients with recurrent peptic ulcer disease were treated with Ranitidine and were assigned randomly to receive hypnotherapy or Ranitidine alone, initiated after healing was documented by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. During 12 months of monitoring, significantly fewer patients in the hypnotherapy group (53%) experienced relapse compared with 100% of patients in the Ranitidine-only group. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in relapse prevention of duodenal ulceration. Colgan SM, Faragher EB, Whorwell PJ. Lancet. 1988;1:1299-1300.
Hypnotherapy is associated with the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for two reasons: (1) the similarity between hypnotic phenomena and the symptoms of PTSD, and (2) the utility of hypnosis as a tool in treatment. Hypnotherapy can be used to provide controlled access to memories that are then placed into a broader perspective. New Uses of hypnosis in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 1990 Oct; 51 Suppl: 39-43 discussion 44-6. Spiegel D, Cardena E.
“Finding ways to relax and reduce stress can help women who have PMS……Some women find therapies like biofeedback and self-hypnosis to be helpful.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists/ Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
The Arthritis Foundation said, “If you’re looking for a gentle way to reduce the pain that comes with chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA), hypnosis may just do the trick. Studies show that more than 75% of people with arthritis and related diseases experience significant pain relief using hypnosis.” https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/pain-management/tips/hypnosis-for-pain.php
“Results indicate that hypnosis produced more significant improvements in both the subjective and objective measurements. above relaxation and medication. Improvements were also found to be of clinical significance and became even more significant when patients practiced the hypnosis regularly during the follow-up periods.” The effect of hypnosis therapy on the symptoms and disease activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Psychol Health. 2000 Nov;14(6):1089-104. Horton-Hausknecht JR, Mitzdorf U.
Of 43 consecutive patients undergoing this smoking cessation treatment protocol using hypnotherapy, 39 reported remaining abstinent from tobacco use at follow-up (6 months to 3 years post-treatment). This represents a 90.6% success rate.
University of Washington School of Medicine, Depts. of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2001 Jul;49(3):257-66. Barber J.
A single 12-hour group session for volunteer smokers who had unsuccessfully tried other methods of smoking cessation. The program achieved an 88% 1-year abstention rate using hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. Kline MV. The use of extended group hypnotherapy sessions in controlling cigarette habituation. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 1970;18:270-282.
A 3 month follow up study of the use of hypnosis on smoking cessation showed that of 93 men and 93 women, 86% of the men and 87% of the women reported continued abstinence from the use of tobacco using hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit. A meta-analysis, statistically combining results of more than 600 studies of 72,000 people from America and Europe to compare various methods of quitting. On average, hypnotherapy was over three times as effective as nicotine replacement methods and 15 times as effective as trying to quit alone. University of Iowa, Journal of Applied Psychology, How One in Five Give Up Smoking. October 1992.
This paper quotes extensively from historical examples of the use of hypnotherapy as the sole anesthesia for major surgeries in the 1800s. These historic examples by themselves provide powerful documentation of the ability of the mind to influence the body, but they are then followed by a review of contemporary literature and controlled research on the use in hypnosis in relation to surgery and prior to medical procedures. Hypnosis as sole anesthesia for major surgeries : historical & contemporary perspectives. Hammond DC. Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):101-21.
The Scottish physician James Esdaile, who used hypnoanesthesia in approximately 300 surgical patients in India between 1845 and 1851, became the best known early hypnoanesthetist.
Esdaile J. Mesmerism in India, and its practical application in surgery and medicine. New York: Arno Press, 1976 reprint of 1846 ed. Published by Longman, London.
The available literature suggests that hypnotherapy, suggestion, and relaxation are underutilized techniques which can shorten postoperative hospital stays, promote the physical recovery of patients from surgery, and aid in the psychological and emotional response of patients following surgery. Suggestion, relaxation, and hypnosis as adjuncts in the care of surgery patients: review of the literature. Am J Clin Hypn 1991;33:172.
A double-blind study in which patients undergoing hysterectomy listened either to an audiotape with positive suggestions or to a blank tape while under general anesthesia. The treatment group had significantly fewer bowel problems, shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stay, less fever, and better recovery (by nursing assessment) than the control patients.
Since 1992, we have used hypnotherapy routinely in more than 1400 patients undergoing surgery. We found that hypnotherapy used in patients as an adjunct to conscious sedation and local anesthesia was associated with improved intraoperative patient comfort, and with reduced anxiety, pain, intraoperative requirements for anxiolytic and analgesic drugs, optimal surgical conditions and a faster recovery of the patient. Hypnosis and its application in surgery Rev Med Liege. 1998 Jul;53(7):414-8 Faymonville ME, Defechereux T, Joris J, Adant JP, Hamoir E, Meurisse M.
Patients with chronic tinnitus treated with hypnotherapy improved significantly in 7 of 10 disturbing symptoms compared with a group treated with masking techniques or supportive measures. Attias J, Shemesh Z, Sohmer H, Gold S, Shoham C, Faraggi D. Comparison between self-hypnosis, masking and attentiveness for alleviation of chronic tinnitus. Audiology. 1993;32:205-212
Hypnotherapy was found to be 30 times more effective for weight loss in a study involving 60 females, at least 20% overweight. The hypnotherapy group lost an average of 17 lbs vs. an average of .5 lbs lost by the control group.
Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.
A study involving 109 patients who completed a behavioral treatment for weight loss either with or without the addition of hypnosis. At the 2-year follow-up, the hypnotherapy subjects continued to lose significant weight, while those that only received behavioral treatment showed little further change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1985.
People who received hypnotherapy lost more weight than 70% of other weight loss treatments and kept it off 2 years later according to a meta-analysis involving 18 studies using cognitive behavioral therapy, such as relaxation training, guided imagery, self -monitoring or goal setting with the same therapy supplemented by hypnosis.
University of Connecticut, Storrs Allison DB, Faith MS. Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for obesity: a meta-analytic reappraisal. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(3):513-516
An additional weight loss study of the effect of adding hypnosis to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for weight loss indicated that the benefits of hypnosis increased substantially over time.
Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatment. “Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Kirsch, Irving 1996, 64 (3), 517-519.
Another weight loss study published in 1996 reported on an analysis of five weight loss studies and showed that weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnotherapy can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches.
University of Connecticut, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 (Vol. 64, No. 3, pgs 517-519).
A trial with 156 participants, who received 9 weekly individual hypnosis sessions plus behavior-modification treatments were compared with results from those who received behavior-modification treatment alone. On average, the hypnosis group had lost 7 kg of weight more than the control group at the 2-year follow-up.
Bolocofsky DN, Spinler D, Coulthard-Morris L. Effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavioral weight management. J Clin Psychol. 1985;41: 35-41.Reference: Weight Loss Research
Disclaimer: All information provided by Dr. Bloom is for educational purposes only. Medical Hypnosis is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or injury. Individual results may vary. No results are guaranteed.