Hypnosis Research and Success

The power of hypnosis is not just anecdotal; it is backed by a growing body of scientific research that highlights its efficacy across a range of psychological, physical, and behavioral applications. This chapter explores the significant studies and success stories that demonstrate the potential of hypnosis, supported by detailed references to ensure credibility.

A Comparative Look at Therapy Modalities

In 1970, Alfred A. Barrios, Ph.D., conducted a groundbreaking survey of scientific literature to compare recovery rates across different therapeutic modalities. His findings remain a cornerstone in understanding the effectiveness of hypnotherapy:

  • Psychoanalysis:

    • Recovery rate: 38% after approximately 600 sessions.

  • Behavior Therapy (Wolpian):

    • Recovery rate: 72% after an average of 22 sessions.

  • Hypnotherapy:

    • Recovery rate: 93% after an average of 6 sessions.

Source: Barrios, Alfred A. “Hypnotherapy: A Reappraisal,” Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice (1970)

This data underscores the efficiency of hypnotherapy in achieving lasting change in a fraction of the time required by other methods.

Medical Applications of Hypnosis

Bone Fracture Healing

A study conducted by Carol Ginandes and Daniel Rosenthal at Harvard Medical School examined the effects of hypnosis on bone healing. The findings were remarkable:

  • Subjects who received hypnosis showed healing progress equivalent to eight and a half weeks of recoverycompared to six weeks for the control group.

  • X-rays revealed significantly accelerated healing in the hypnosis group by week 6.

Source: Ginandes, C.S., Rosenthal, D.I. (1999), “Using hypnosis to accelerate the healing of bone fractures: A randomized controlled pilot study,” Therapy Health Medicine

Asthma Management

Hypnosis has been shown to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks, decrease the need for medication, and improve overall respiratory function:

  1. Maher-Loughnan, G.P. (1970) found that hypnosis alleviated subjective distress and decreased attack frequency.

  2. In another study, patients receiving hypnosis demonstrated improved physiological measures of respiration compared to those undergoing relaxation therapy.

Sources: Maher-Loughnan, G.P., et al. (1962, 1970), British Medical Journal

Cancer Treatment Support

Women with metastatic breast cancer experienced profound benefits from hypnosis:

  • Pain reduction by 50%.

  • Doubling of survival rates at a 10-year follow-up for those who received group hypnosis therapy.

  • Hypnosis also reduced anticipatory nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Sources: Spiegel, D., et al. (1983, 1989), Psychosomatic Medicine; Lancet

Behavioral and Psychological Applications

Weight Loss

Hypnosis can be highly effective in managing and reducing weight. By addressing emotional eating, improving motivation, and fostering a healthier relationship with one's body, hypnosis provides a unique and safe approach to weight loss. Key findings include:

  • Participants who used hypnosis lost double the amount of weight compared to those relying solely on behavioral therapy, with effects sustained during follow-up periods. (Kirsch, I., 1996)

  • Self-hypnosis techniques have been shown to promote significant weight loss in patients with severe obesity. (Bo, S., et al., 2018)

  • Hypnosis combined with other psychological treatments has been proven to enhance weight management outcomes by reducing inflammation and improving overall quality of life, even without significant weight loss. (Pellegrini, M., et al., 2021)

  • Hypnotizability has been identified as a key factor in the success of hypnosis-based weight loss interventions. (Barabasz, M. & Spiegel, D., 1989)

  • Meta-analytic reviews confirm that hypnosis is an effective intervention for obesity, highlighting its potential as an adjunct to traditional weight management strategies. (Milling, L. S., Gover, M. C. & Moriarty, C. L., 2018)

Hypnosis not only addresses behaviors that interfere with managing weight but also fosters mental resilience and emotional well-being, making it a valuable tool in tackling the global challenge of obesity.

Smoking Cessation

Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation has consistently demonstrated high success rates:

  • 81% of participants quit smoking after three hypnosis sessions.

  • At a 12-month follow-up, nearly 50% remained smoke-free.

  • A large clinical trial (N = 226) found that a single session of hypnosis for smoking cessation yielded a 52% success rate.

Source: Elkins, G.R., Rajab, M.H. (2004), International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis

Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation has consistently demonstrated high success rates:

  • 81% of participants quit smoking after three hypnosis sessions.

  • At a 12-month follow-up, nearly 50% remained smoke-free.

Source: Elkins, G.R., Rajab, M.H. (2004), International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis

Weight Loss

Hypnosis supports sustained weight loss by addressing emotional eating and boosting motivation:

  • Participants who used hypnosis lost double the amount of weight compared to those using behavioral therapy alone.

  • The effects were maintained during follow-up periods.

Source: Kirsch, I. (1996), Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Depression Management

Hypnosis has proven to be an effective and promising approach for reducing symptoms of depression. Recent findings highlight its unique benefits and mechanisms:

  • A meta-analysis found that individuals receiving hypnosis showed greater reductions in depression than about 76% of those in control conditions, with more than half maintaining improvement at the longest follow-up. (Milling, L. S., Valentine, K. E., McCarley, H. S. & LoStimolo, L. M., 2019)

  • Hypnosis effectively reduces excessive focus on distress, such as rumination, and helps address feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. (Yapko, M., 2009)

  • By supporting the learning of new skills, hypnosis aligns with evidence-based psychological treatments, decreasing the likelihood of relapse and promoting skillful mood management. (Yapko, M. D., 2010)

  • Hypnosis can shift expectancies, counteracting the negative outlook associated with depression by fostering positive change. (Kirsch, I. & Low, C. B., 2013)

Why is Hypnosis a Better Alternative for Depression?

  • Over 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. use antidepressant medications, often long-term, with significant side effects like dry mouth, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. (Brody, D. J., 2020; Bet, P. M., et al., 2013)

  • The effectiveness of antidepressants has been questioned, with growing evidence suggesting a substantial placebo component. Hypnosis, however, offers a non-invasive, safe alternative with shared mechanisms like expectancy modulation. (Kirsch, I., 2014; Kittle, J. & Spiegel, D., 2021)

  • Unlike medications, hypnosis equips individuals with tools to manage their mood, potentially reducing future depressive episodes and empowering long-term mental health.

Hypnosis for Physical Conditions

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Hypnosis is one of the most effective treatments for IBS, with over 80% of patients reporting significant improvements:

  • Reduction in abdominal pain and bloating.

  • Long-lasting results maintained at a two-year follow-up.

Source: Whorwell, P.J., et al. (1984, 1987), Lancet

Arthritis Pain Relief

Patients with arthritis reported:

  • Decreased pain, anxiety, and depression.

  • Increased levels of beta-endorphins, which naturally alleviate pain.

Source: Domangue, B.B., et al. (1985), Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Unique Applications

Childbirth

Hypnosis has revolutionized childbirth practices by reducing pain and improving outcomes:

  • 55-79% of women using hypnosis required no pain medication during labor.

  • Hypnosis also shortened labor times and improved neonatal health (higher Apgar scores).

Source: Harmon, T.M., et al. (1990), Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Surgical Recovery

Patients trained in hypnosis before surgery:

  • Had shorter hospital stays.

  • Required fewer painkillers and reported less post-operative pain.

Source: Rapkin, D.A., et al. (1988), Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis

Performance Applications

Hypnosis has demonstrated significant effectiveness in enhancing various performance domains, from sports to music and surgical training. Below are key findings:

Sports Performance

Hypnosis is widely used to enhance athletic performance by improving focus, reducing anxiety, and building confidence. Studies have shown:

  • Athletes using cognitive-behavioral hypnosis techniques experienced improved performance outcomes. (Whelan, J. P., Mahoney, M. J. & Meyers, A. W., 1991)

  • Imagery combined with hypnosis helps athletes maintain peak performance under pressure. (Vealey, R. S. & Forlenza, S. T., 2015)

  • Psychological skills such as arousal regulation, enhanced through hypnosis, contribute significantly to athletic success. (Gould, D. & Udry, E., 1994)

Music Performance

Hypnosis has been used to address performance anxiety in musicians, leading to improved outcomes:

  • Cognitive hypnotherapy and eye movement desensitization reduced music performance anxiety in advanced pianists. (Brooker, E., 2018)

  • Music students experienced a significant reduction in anxiety and improved confidence after hypnotherapy sessions. (Stanton, H. E., 1994)

Surgical Training

Hypnosis has applications in medical training to enhance focus and skill acquisition:

  • Hypnosis-induced mental training improved performance on laparoscopic surgery simulators, highlighting its role in precision-based tasks. (Sroka, G., et al., 2015)

Competitive Shooting

Hypnosis has also been explored for precision sports:

  • In air rifle shooting competitions, hypnosis improved athletes' focus and reduced performance anxiety. (Mattle, S., Birrer, D. & Elfering, A., 2020)

Additional Recent Research

Pain Management

  • A comprehensive analysis of 42 controlled studies confirmed hypnosis’s effectiveness in reducing clinical pain and improving emotional distress during medical procedures.

Source: American Journal of Medicine

Anxiety Relief

  • A meta-analysis showed that hypnosis reduced anxiety more effectively than 79% of control methods, providing long-term relief.

Source: Valentine, K. E., Milling, L. S., Clark, L. J. & Moriarty, C. L. The Efficacy of Hypnosis as a Treatment for Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Hypn. 67, 336–363 (2019)

Stress and Medical Distress

  • Hypnosis significantly reduced distress in patients undergoing medical procedures.

Source: Schnur, J. B., Kafer, I., Marcus, C. & Montgomery, G. H. Hypnosis to manage distress related to medical procedures: A meta-analysis. Contemp. Hypn. J. Br. Soc. Exp. Clin. Hypn. 25, 114–128 (2008)

Stress Disorders

  • Hypnosis demonstrated efficacy in treating anxiety- and stress-related disorders by significantly reducing symptoms.

Source: Hammond, D. C. Hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety- and stress-related disorders. Expert Rev. Neurother. 10, 263–73

Hypnotic Drug Usage and Risks

  • A nationwide prospective cohort study identified a correlation between the use of anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs and an increased risk of hip fractures in older adults.

Source: Bakken, M. S., et al. Risk of hip fracture among older people using anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs: a nationwide prospective cohort study. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 70, 873–880 (2014)

Conclusion

The scientific evidence supporting hypnosis is vast and growing, demonstrating its effectiveness in both medical and psychological domains. Whether accelerating healing, reducing pain, or transforming behaviors, hypnosis is a proven and invaluable tool. With ongoing research, the potential applications of hypnosis continue to expand, offering hope and healing across countless areas of life.