Research and Review

Thousands of studies have shown the efficacy of hypnosis in treating numerous issues. Here is a small sample of some of the ways hypnosis has helped people to alleviate suffering, increase motivation, and improve their lives.

Montgomery, David, Winkel, Siverstein & Bovbjerg (2002) examined 20 published, controlled studies of hypnosis as an adjunct with surgical patients, using suggestions for the control of side effects such as pain, nausea, distress. Only studies in which patients were randomised to either a hypnosis or control group (no-treatment, routine care, or attention control group) were included. Patients in the hypnosis treatment groups had better outcomes than 89% of the patients in the control groups. Adjunctive hypnosis helped the majority of patients reduce adverse consequences of surgical interventions.

Carol Ginandes (Harvard Medical School) and Patricia Brooks (Union Institute in Cincinnati) found that hypnosis significantly reduced the time it took to heal from a fracture (41% faster).

Montgomery, DuHamel & Redd (2000) compared 18 studies that evaluated hypnotic pain reduction to determine the effectiveness of hypnotic suggestion for pain relief relative to other nonhypnotic psychological interventions. Findings revealed a moderate to large hypnoanalgesic effect, supporting the efficacy of hypnotic techniques for pain management.

The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1996) compared the results of adding hypnosis to weight loss treatment across multiple studies, finding that adding hypnosis increased weight loss by an average of 97% during treatment, and even more importantly increased the effectiveness post treatment by over 146%.

Alison and Faith (1996) analyzed 18 studies comparing a cognitive behavioral therapy, such as relaxation training, guided imagery, self monitoring or goal setting with the same therapy supplemented by hypnosis. Those who received the hypnosis lost more weight than 90 percent of the non hypnosis groups, and maintained the weight loss two years after treatment ended.

In Journal of Applied Psychology (1992) and New Scientist (Oct. 10, 1992) the results of more than 600 studies of 72,000 people from America and Europe comparing various methods of quitting smoking were reported. On average, hypnosis was over three times as effective as nicotine replacement methods and 15 times as effective as trying to quit alone.

Alfred A. Barrios (1970) compared 1,018 studies and articles on hypnosis, 899 articles on psychoanalytic therapy and 355 on behavioral therapy. He found that hypnotherapy had a 93% success rate after only 6 sessions compared to only a 72% success rate with behavioral therapy (after 22 sessions on average), and only 38% success rate with psychotherapy (after an average of 600 sessions). This led him to conclude that for changing habits, thought patterns, and behavior hypnosis was the most effective method, and needed less time / sessions than any other type of therapy.

Vickers and Zollman (1999) conducted a clinical review of the research on hypnosis and relaxation therapies published in the BMJ and concluded: ‘There is good evidence from randomised controlled trials that both hypnosis and relaxation techniques can reduce anxiety, and that hypnosis was proven to be effective in treating panic attacks and phobia.

A study of 20 individuals compared the use of self-hypnosis and relaxation therapy in managing anxiety over 28 days. Both groups were shown to have achieved significant reduction in psychological and physical symptoms of anxiety. However, the self-hypnosis group exhibited greater confidence in the positive effects of the treatment, higher expectation of success, and greater degrees of cognitive and physical improvement. (Lucy O’Neill, Amanda Barnier, & Kevin McConkey, ‘Treating Anxiety with self-hypnosis and relaxation’, Contemporary Hypnosis, 1999, vol. 16 (2): 68)

In a research study involving over 100 patients suffering from stress-related conditions it was found that 75% felt their symptoms were improving after 12 weeks of self-hypnosis practice, within one year 72% of the group reported complete remission of their symptoms as a result of the self-hypnosis. (Maher-Loughnan, G.P. 1980, “Hypnosis: Clinical application of hypnosis in medicine’, British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 23: 447-55)

Over a six year period, 173 successive patients suffering from asthma were treated using self-hypnosis, 82% were either much improved or experienced total remission of symptoms. (Maher-Loughnan, G.P. 1970, ‘Hypnosis and autohypnosis for the treatment of asthma’, International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis. 18: 1 -14)