A hypnotic state is a state between wakefulness and sleep, a state of heightened concentration and receptivity that results in suspension of peripheral cues. The effect of a hypnotic state results in alteration of perception and attention. Hypnosis has been tested for its effect on pain, anxiety, depression, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), hot flashes, and fatigue in patients with cancer. Hypnosis has been delivered in various formats, including individual in-person sessions, CD program, and self-hypnosis.
Kwekkeboom, K. L., Cherwin, C. H., Lee, J. W., & Wanta, B. (2010). Mind-body treatments for the pain-fatigue-sleep disturbance symptom cluster in persons with cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 39, 126–138.
To identify and synthesize the evidence for mind-body interventions for which the evidence suggests benefit for at least two of the three cluster symptoms of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.
Databases searched were CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO through March 2009.
Search keywords were guided imagery, hypnosis, relaxation, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills training, meditation, virtual reality, music AND cancer AND fatigue, sleep disturbance, sleep difficulty, insomnia, and pain.
Studies were included in the review if they
Studies were excluded if they
A total of 47 studies were identified. In four of those, all testing virtual reality, only the symptom of fatigue was measured, so these were eliminated.
The final sample included 43 studies. Study sample sizes and total patients involved across studies were not reported.
Relaxation
Six studies examined relaxation interventions in hospitalized patients, outpatients with chronic pain, and women with early-stage breast cancer.
Imagery and Hypnosis
Six studies examined imagery and hypnosis.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)/Coping Skills Training (CST)
Twenty-one studies tested CBT/CST.
Meditation
Four studies were included.
Music
Findings of this review were equivocal.
Although the findings did not clearly demonstrate the effects of these interventions across studies, the authors concluded that these interventions hold promise. Although such interventions carry minimal risk to patients, some interventions would require substantial time and resource commitment to provide.
Montgomery, G. H., Bovbjerg, D. H., Schnur, J. B., David, D., Goldfarb, A., Weltz, C. R., ... & Silverstein, J. H. (2007). A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 99, 1304–1312.
Both the hypnosis and attention control sessions were standardized and provided for patients individually by clinical psychologists. All four interventionists were PhD-level clinical psychologists trained in the use of hypnosis in medical settings. The hypnosis intervention was provided in a 15-minute session on the morning of surgery one hour before surgery. Sessions included a relaxation-based induction (including imagery for muscle relaxation), suggestions for relaxation and peace, specific symptom-focused suggestions, a deepening procedure, and instructions for how patients could use hypnosis on their own following the intervention session. Patients in the attention control condition spent identical amounts of time with the same interventionists that led the hypnosis intervention. Patients were allowed to direct the flow of the conversation, and therapists provided supportive/empathic comments according to standardized procedures. Patient outcome measures were evaluated before discharge on the same day of surgery. Interventions were based on previously published work.
Patients were recruited from two Mount Sinai Medical Center surgical practices.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
The study was a randomized, controlled trial:
Visual analog scales (VASs)
A MANOVA showed an overall effect of the intervention on the six outcomes (as assessed by VASs), including patient-reported pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset (p < 0.0001). One-way ANOVAs of the effects of the intervention on VAS outcomes revealed that each outcome was statistically significantly lower in patients in the intervention group compared to those in the control group. In all cases, mean differences were clinically meaningful.
A cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that the intervention group had reduced costs compared to the patients in the attention control condition. These cost savings were primarily a result of reduced time in surgery in the hypnosis group.
Montgomery, G. H., Kangas, M., David, D., Hallquist, M. N., Green, S., Bovbjerg, D. H., & Schnur, J. B. (2009). Fatigue during breast cancer radiotherapy: an initial randomized study of cognitive-behavioral therapy plus hypnosis. Health Psychology, 28, 317–322.
To test the effectiveness of a psychological intervention combining cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and hypnosis (CBTH) to treat radiotherapy-related fatigue.
Forty-five patients were randomized to two groups: CBTH and standard medical care. Weekly and daily fatigue were measured with two covariates: neuroticism and history of chemotherapy. In the CBTH group, the patients participated in a 15-minute hypnosis session with guided imagery and suggestions for reduced fatigue and a sense of relaxation and energy. Patients were given a CD of the hypnosis intervention to listen to at home. The therapist provided a 30-minute CBT skills session, including how to recognize negative beliefs, consequences of those beliefs, how to change these, and how to practice behavioral strategies and exercise to manage treatment-related fatigue. The therapist reviewed information and progress with each patient twice weekly for a total of 12 sessions in 5- to 15-minute sessions.
The study was a randomized, clinical trial using a repeated measures design.
Among the control group, weekly FSs increased over time at a rate of 1.57 points/week (p < 0.001). Over the course of radiotherapy, individuals in the intervention group had little increase in FS fatigue (0.6 points/week) (p = 0.01).
An intervention combining CBT and hypnosis was effective for controlling fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, independent of neuroticism or past chemotherapy.
Replication of the intervention effects should be studied in a larger population with appropriate attentional control procedures.