Effect of Hypnosis on Pain, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Female Patients with Fibromyalgia: Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study.

This prospective, randomized, controlled study aimed to investigate the effects of standardized adjuvant hypnosis on pain, depression, anxiety, aerobic exercise practices, quality of life, and disease impact score in female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This study included 47 female patients with FMS who had been under treatment for at least six months. The hypnosis group (n = 24) received a total of three hypnosis sessions and was taught to patients' self-hypnosis. The patients in this group practiced self-hypnosis for six months. During this period, all patients also continued their medical treatment. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to determine the intensity of pain. At the end of the six-month follow-up period, it was determined that the patients of FMS with hypnosis therapy had lower pain intensity, FMS symptoms, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and better well-being than those in the control group (p < .05). Standardized hypnosis is an effective method in reducing pain, depression and anxiety symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with FMS.

Adjuvant Hypnotherapy for Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Hyperemesis gravidarum, which requires hospitalization in approximately 1% to 5% of patients, is characterized by severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. This study investigated the effects of hypnosis on nausea, vomiting, use of antiemetic medications, and hospital stay among patients diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum. Patients were randomized to receive either conventional therapy alone (control condition, n = 23) or adjuvant hypnotherapy plus conventional therapy (treatment group, n = 18). Sociodemographic data, severity of nausea, frequency of vomiting per day, rescue medications used, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Participants in the treatment group received 2 sessions of hypnosis and were instructed in daily self-hypnosis practice. Those in the control group received treatment as usual. Results from this study indicated that adjunctive use of hypnotherapy with patients diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum experienced significantly reduced severity of nausea and frequency of vomiting compared to treatment-as-usual alone. Also, hospital stay was found to be shorter in the treatment group as compared to the control group. These findings are encouraging and suggest it is feasible and potentially beneficial to include adjunctive hypnotherapy to treat hyperemesis gravidarum.