Willingness and Accessibility of a Hypnosis Intervention for Anxiety Among a Low Socioeconomic Status Population.

Objective: This survey study aimed to investigate the willingness and accessibility of a hypnosis intervention for anxiety among low socioeconomic status patients in a primary care setting. Methods: Participants were asked to complete a one-page survey during a scheduled office visit with their primary care provider. Survey questions included participants' interest in hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety, how many sessions they would be willing/able to attend, how they would prefer access to a recorded hypnosis intervention, and items relating to anxiety, including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 measure. Results: Two hundred participants (71.5% female) completed the survey with a mean age of 43.16 (standard deviation = 15.78). Over half (54.6%) of the survey participants reported that they experience anxiety, and 74% of the participants indicated that they would be interested in hypnosis if it were recommended by their provider for anxiety. Discussion: Given the high prevalence of anxiety among survey participants, there exists a clear need for effective and accessible treatment options. These results demonstrate the willingness of individuals to use hypnosis for anxiety and to engage in remote hypnosis interventions.

Effect of Hypnosis on Anxiety: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial with Women in Postmenopause.

Anxiety is common, yet often under-treated, among women in postmenopause. This study examined the effect of a hypnotic intervention designed to reduce hot flashes, on anxiety levels of postmenopausal women. Anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale, and a visual analog scale. Additionally, hypnotizability was tested as a moderator of anxiety reductions. Significant reductions in anxiety were found from baseline to endpoint and follow-up and hypnosis was superior to the control condition. Additionally, ratings of Current Anxiety decreased from pre-session to post-session at each weekly visit and the pre-session scores reduced continuously. Hypnotizability was found to moderate anxiety reductions, but regardless of hypnotizability level participants, on average, experienced significant symptom improvement from baseline scores. These data provide initial support for the use of hypnosis to reduce symptoms of anxiety among postmenopausal women.Trial registration: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on February 11, 2011 under Identifier number NCT01293695 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01293695?term=Elkins&cond=hot+flashes&draw=2&rank=2 ).

Feasibility of Attention Restoration Theory-Driven Hypnotherapy for Fatigue in Cancer Survivors.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of Attention Restoration Theory (ART)-driven hypnotherapy to address cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Six participants with CRF completed the study. Participants completed measures of fatigue and pain pre- and posttreatment of 5 sessions of ART-driven hypnotherapy, each of which followed a treatment manual. Results indicate that participants experienced reductions in fatigue, fatigue bothersomeness, and pain following the intervention. Additionally, participants reported high levels of treatment satisfaction. This innovative intervention of ART-driven hypnotherapy appears to be feasible and warrants further study in a controlled trial with a larger sample.

Mindful Hypnotherapy to Reduce Stress and Increase Mindfulness: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

The feasibility of mindful hypnotherapy (MH) intervention for stress reduction was investigated in a randomized trial. Forty-two college-age participants with elevated stress were randomized into MH intervention or wait-list control condition. MH participants completed an 8-week intervention with 1-hour individual sessions and self-hypnosis audio recordings for daily mindfulness. Results indicated excellent feasibility, determined by participant satisfaction, treatment adherence (84% compliance rate), and low rate of adverse events (4.5%). There were significant differences between the MH and control groups postintervention, with the mindful hypnotherapy intervention resulting in significant and large decrease in perceived distress, p < .001, 15.35 (1.54), Hedge's g = - 1.14, and increase in mindfulness, p < .001, 50.07 (2.04), Hedge's g = 1.36. This study indicates that MH is a feasible intervention for stress reduction and increasing mindfulness.

PSYCHOLOGICAL MINDEDNESS, ATTITUDES TOWARD HYPNOSIS, AND EXPECTANCY AS CORRELATES OF HYPNOTIZABILITY.

This study aimed to understand how psychological mindedness, attitudes toward hypnosis, and expectancy of hypnotizability are related to hypnotizability. Ninety-one undergraduate students were given measures pertaining to attitudes toward hypnosis, psychological mindedness, and self-ratings of expectancy of hypnotizability. The subjects were then administered the Elkins Hypnotizability Scale (EHS). Results demonstrated a significant correlation between participant scores on the EHS and the Attitudes Toward Hypnosis Scale (r = .401, p < .01) and self-ratings of expectancy of hypnotizability (r = .391, p < .01). The results of this study did not reveal any statistically significant correlations between psychological mindedness and hypnotizability (r = .113, p > .29) or expectancy of hypnotizability (r = .175, p > .10). Additional research is needed to fully understand the relationship between psychological mindedness and hypnotizability.