Scientific Research papers

Effectiveness of medical hypnosis for pain reduction and faster wound healing in pediatric acute burn injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Chester, S.J., Stockton, K., De Young, A. et al. Effectiveness of medical hypnosis for pain reduction and faster wound healing in pediatric acute burn injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 17, 223 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1346-9

​

The University of Queensland's Child Health Research Centre (CHRC) analysed whether hypnotherapy decreased pain, anxiety, and stress for children undergoing potentially painful changes to their burns dressings.

 

UQ medical student and PhD candidate Stephen Chester conducted a randomised controlled trial at Brisbane's Lady Cilento Children's Hospital involving 62 burns patients aged between four and 16.The children were randomly assigned to either the hypnotherapy or standard care group, and measures of pain, anxiety, stress, and wound healing were taken at each dressing change," Mr Chester said.

"Children in the hypnotherapy group reported 70 per cent lower pain and 67 per cent lower anxiety scores on average, compared with those receiving standard care before their second dressing change.

"Before the third dressing change, the hypnotherapy group had 90 per cent lower pain and 84 per cent lower anxiety. These results are clinically significant."

​

Review article: gut-directed hypnotherapy in the management of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease

Peters, S. L. 1; Muir, J. G. 1; Gibson, P. R. 1 Author Information

 

1Department of Gastroenterology, Central Clinical School, The Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. Australia

Published online 10 April 2015.

 

Aim

To review the technique, mechanisms of action and evidence for efficacy, and to identify gaps in the understanding of gut-directed hypnotherapy as a treatment for IBS and IBD.Results

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a clearly described technique. Its potential mechanisms of action on the brain-gut axis are multiple with evidence spanning psychological effects through to physiological gastrointestinal modifications. Six of seven randomised IBS studies reported a significant reduction (all P < 0.05) in overall gastrointestinal symptoms following treatment usually compared to supportive therapy only. Response rates amongst those who received gut-directed hypnotherapy ranged between 24% and 73%. Efficacy was maintained long-term in four of five studies. A therapeutic effect was also observed in the maintenance of clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. Uncontrolled trials supported the efficacy and durability of gut-directed hypnotherapy in IBS. Gaps in understanding included to whom and when it should be applied, the paucity of adequately trained hypnotherapists, and the difficulties in designing well controlled-trials.

 

 

Conclusions

Gut-directed hypnotherapy has durable efficacy in patients with IBS and possibly ulcerative colitis. Whether it sits in the therapeutic arsenal as a primary and/or adjunctive therapy cannot be ascertained on the current evidence base. Further research into efficacy, mechanisms of action and predictors of response is required.

 

Peters SL, Muir JG, Gibson PR. Review article: gut-directed hypnotherapy in the management of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2015;41(11):1104–1115. doi: 10.1111/apt.13202.

 

Peters, S. L. , Muir, J. G. & Gibson, P. R. (2015). Review article: gut-directed hypnotherapy in the management of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 41(11), 1104–1115. doi: 10.1111/apt.13202.

 

Peters, S., L., et al. "Review article: gut-directed hypnotherapy in the management of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease". Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, vol. 41, no. 11, June 2015, pp. 1104–1115. doi: 10.1111/apt.13202.

​

30 years of research  has gone into Hypnotherapy and IBS.
Here is a peer reviewed one from 2015 covering 1000 patients

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/apt.13145

Also see this on the Manchester University website regarding the use of Skype:

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/skype-hypnotherapy-is-effective-treatment-for-ibs/

Multiple research papers are available in this link from the IBS unit at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester where there is a dedicated Hypnotherapy Unit.
See:

https://www.ibs-care.org/hypnotherapy.html

A BMJ (highly regarded) one on non cardiac chest pain by Wythenshawe

https://gut.bmj.com/content/gutjnl/55/10/1403.full.pdf
 

Study 1: Hypnosis Superior to Breathing Exercises for Improving Asthma

Hypnosis for Asthma – A Controlled Trial

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1912142/pdf/brmedj02105-0025.pdf

 

Study 2: Review of Studies Concludes that Hypnosis Helps Asthma Generally and Especially in Children

Hypnosis and Asthma: Critical Review

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10724294

 

Study 3: Review of Studies – Hypnosis Can Help Asthma Symptoms and Helps Manage Emotional States the Exacerbate Airway ObstructionEvidence-Based Hypnotherapy for Asthma: A Critical Review

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207140601177947?journalCode=nhyp20

 

Study 4: Hypnosis Reduces Asthmatics’ Hospital Stays, Drug Side Effects and Need for Drugs; also Improves Condition Generally

Chronic Asthma and Improvement with Relaxation Induced by Hypnotherapy

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1291881/pdf/jrsocmed00155-0023.pdf

 

Study 5: Hypnosis Helps Exercise-Induced Asthma

Hypnosis for Exercise-Induced Asthma

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6803633

 

Study 6: Hypnosis Can Help Mild to Moderate Asthma Symptoms

Improvement in Bronchial Hyper-Responsiveness in Patient with Moderate Asthma after Treatment with a Hypnotic Technique: A Randomised Controlled Trial

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1341848/

 

Study 7: Hypnosis Helps Children with Asthma

Hypnotherapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/22018848_Hypnotherapy_in_the_treatment_of_bronchial_asthma

 

TY  - JOUR

AU  - Aronoff, G

AU  - Aronoff, S

AU  - Peck, L

PY  - 1975/07/01

SP  - 356

EP  - 62

N2  - The efficacy of hypnotherapy in aborting acute asthmatic attacks was studied in 17 children ranging in age from six to 17. All had as their primary diagnosis bronchial asthma. Prior to hypnotic induction pulmonary function was assessed, then monitored in the immediate post hypnotic period and at two intervals thereafter. The average improvement for all subjects was greater than 50% above the baseline measurement as documented by spirometry, monitored dyspnea, wheezing and subjective ratings by the subjects. It is suggested that hypnotherapy may be an important tool in ameliorating asthma, improving ventilatory capacity and promoting relaxation without recourse to pharmacologic agents. One explanation offered is that hypnosis affects an automic response, thereby diminishing bronchospasm.

T1  - Hypnotherapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma

VL  - 34

JO  - Annals of allergy

ER  - 

Sexual issues; Support for recovery from rape and child abuse

 

Research paper

 

Spiegel, David. (1989). Hypnosis in the Treatment of Victims of Sexual Abuse. The Psychiatric clinics of North America. 12. 295-305. 10.1016/S0193-953X(18)30432-5. The relevance of hypnosis to the treatment of sexual assault derives from two sources: the fact that hypnotic phenomena are mobilized spontaneously as defenses during assault, becoming part of the syndrome of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the usefulness of formal hypnosis in treating PTSD. The role of dissociative defenses during and after traumatic experiences is reviewed; an analogy between the major elements of formally-induced hypnosis--absorption, dissociation, and suggestibility, and the major elements of PTSD--is drawn. Special problems relevant to sexual assault in childhood are discussed, including extreme self-blame and a profound sense of personality fragmentation. Uses of hypnosis in the treatment of sexual assault victims are reviewed, with an emphasis on helping such patients restructure their memories of the experience, both by reviewing them with greater control over their physical sense of comfort and safety and by balancing painful memories with recognition of their efforts to protect themselves or someone else who was endangered. The use of a split-screen technique in hypnosis is described with a clinical example. Special considerations in such treatment, including the traumatic transference and forensic complications of such psychotherapeutic work, are enumerated.