Academic Research: Hypnosis for pain management
Over recent years there has been a significant number of published academic research papers into the effectiveness of hypnosis for pain management. The following provides just a few examples. A simple internet search will identify more.
A Literature Review Examining the Effects of Hypnotherapy for Chronic Pain, Rebecca Anbar, the College at Brockport: State University of New York 4-2018.
The Literature Review concludes:
‘The results of this study have potentially huge implications for the medical field.’
‘Hypnotherapy is less expensive and less invasive than traditional treatment options for chronic pain. By using hypnotherapy, people will have the possibility of experiencing fewer side effects from medication, an increase in self dependence, and an overall healthier and happier lifestyle (Ledger, 2017). Since the results of this literature review seem to suggest that hypnotherapy is a viable and effective option for patients with chronic pain, the next question is, why is it not being more widely used?’
Clinical Implications of Recent Research Findings, Mark P Jenson and David R Patterson. National Library of Medicine, 2015 Jun 14.
The following extracts are quotations taken from the study.
‘The empirical support for hypnosis for chronic pain management has flourished over the past two decades. Clinical trials show that hypnosis is effective for reducing chronic pain, although outcomes vary between individuals.’
‘Growing awareness of the limitations of currently available pain treatments make training patients in self-hypnosis an attractive component of pain treatment.’
‘Chronic pain management remains one of the largest challenges in health care, and hypnosis is an undeveloped but highly promising intervention that can help to address this problem.’
‘Importantly, hypnosis for chronic pain has few negative side effects. In fact, with hypnotic treatment, most patients report positive side effects, such as an improved sense of well-being, a greater sense of control, improved sleep, and increased satisfaction with life, independent of whether they report reductions in pain.’
Literature review of the evidence-base for the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, Eileen Davis, Senior Lecturer and Academic Head School of Counselling, Australian College of Applied Psychology.
The literature review concludes:
Hypnosis is effective for pain control and the reduction of anxiety. The reviewed studies provide clear and significant evidence that participants who receive hypnosis for painful medical procedures, for the pain control of chronic or acute pain, and for the reduction of anxiety, gain moderate to large positive benefits and effects. These positive benefits have been consistently shown to continue over at least six to twelve months.
