Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Hypnosis in patients with perceived stress – a systematic review

Authors: S Fisch, B Brinkhaus, M Teut

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Although hypnosis and hypnotherapy have become more popular in recent years, the evidence for hypnosis to influence perceived stress is unclear. In this systematic review we searched and evaluated randomized clinical studies investigating the effect of hypnosis on perceived stress reduction and coping.

Methods

The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Review of Effects, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX and PubMed were systematically screened from their inception until December 2015 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting about hypnosis or hypnotherapy for stress reduction in healthy participants. Risk of Bias was assessed according the Cochrane Collaboration recommendations.

Results

Nine RCTs with a total of 365 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Most included participants were medical students, predominantly female (n = 211). Mean age of participants ranged in most studies between 20 and 25 years, in three studies the mean ages were between 30 and 42 years. Perceived stress was measured by a wide range of psychological questionnaires including Face Valid Stress Test, Stress Thermometer, and immunological data was collected. All nine included studies used explorative designs and showed a high risk of bias. Six out of nine studies reported significant positive effects of hypnosis for stress reduction in the main outcome parameter compared to control groups (3 active controls, 3 no therapy controls). Immunological outcomes were assessed in six studies, the results were inconclusive.

Conclusions

Due to exploratory designs and high risk of bias, the effectiveness of hypnosis or hypnotherapy in stress reduction remains still unclear. More high quality clinical research is urgently needed.
Literature
1.
Heinrichs M, Stächele T, Domes G. Stress und Stressbewältigung. Hogrefe Verlag: Göttingen; 2015.
2.
Anderson NB, Bennett Johnson S, Belar CD, Breckler SJ, Nordal KC, Ballard D, et al. Stress in America: our health at risk. In: Am Psychol Assoc. 2012;
3.
4.
Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal and Coping. New York: Springer Publishing Company; 1984.
5.
Elkins GR, Barabasz AF, Council JR, Spiegel D. Advancing research and practice: the revised APA division 30 definition of hypnosis. Am J Clin Hypn. 2015;57(4):378–85.CrossRefPubMed
6.
de Vibe M, Solhaug I, Tyssen R, Friborg O, Rosenvinge JH, Sørlie T, et al. Mindfulness training for stress management: a randomised controlled study of medical and psychology students. BMC Med Educ. 2013;13(1):1.
7.
Bazarko D, Cate RA, Azocar F, Kreitzer MJ. The impact of an innovative mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the health and well-being of nurses employed in a corporate setting. J Workplace Behav Health. 2013;28(2):107–33.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Morledge TJ, Allexandre D, Fox E, Fu AZ, Higashi MK, Kruzikas DT, et al. Feasibility of an online mindfulness program for stress management—a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Behav med. 2013;46(2):137–48.
9.
Drexler D. Das integrierte Stressbewältigungsprogramm ISP. Manual und Materialien für Therapie und Beratung. 3rd ed. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta; 2012.
10.
Meichenbaum D. Intervention bei Stress: Anwendung und Wirkung des Stressimpfungstrainings. 3rd ed. Bern: Huber; 2012.
11.
Schelp T, Gravemeier R, Maluck D. Rational-emotive Therapie als Gruppentraining gegen Streß. Seminarkonzepte und Materialien. Bern: Huber; 1997.
12.
Kaluza G. Gelassen und sicher im Stress. Psychologisches Programm zur Gesundheitsförderung. Berlin: Springer; 1996.
13.
Reschke K, Schröder H. Optimistisch den Stress meistern. Tübingen. DGVT-Verlag: Tübingen; 2000.
14.
Müller H, Kröger CB: Der erfolgreiche Umgang mit täglichen Belastungen. Programm zur Stressbewältigung, 6 edn. München: IFT; 2013.
15.
Wagner-Link A. Verhaltenstraining zur Stressbewältigung. Arbeitsbuch für Therapeuten und Trainer. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta Verlag; 2010.
16.
Hammond DC. Handbook of hypnotic suggestions and metaphors. New York: W. W. Norton & Company; 1990.
17.
Alman BM, Lambrou PT. Self-hypnosis: the complete manual for health and self-change. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge; 2013.
18.
Zeyer R. Hypnotherapeutische Strategien bei akutem und chronischem Stress. Heidelberg: Carl-Auer Verlag; 2012.
19.
Revenstorf D, Zeyer R. Hypnose lernen. Leistungssteigerung und Streßbewältigung durch Selbsthypnose. 7th ed. Heidelberg: Carl-Auer; 2006.
20.
Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS med. 2009;6(7):e1000097.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Higgins JP, Altman DG, Gotzsche PC, Juni P, Moher D, Oxman AD, Savovic J, Schulz KF, Weeks L, Sterne JA: The Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. Bmj (Clinical research ed) 2011, 343:d5928.
22.
Airosa F, Andersson SK, Falkenberg T, Forsberg C, Nordby-Hornell E, Ohlen G, et al. Tactile massage and hypnosis as a health promotion for nurses in emergency care--a qualitative study. BMC Complement Altern med. 2011;11:83.
23.
Dominguez TB, Martinez G, Silvia A, Zaldivar I, Olvera Y, Victorio A. Streß-Management mit Hypnose und sensorisch-emotionale Umwandlung bei chronischen Schmerzen. Experimentelle und Klinische Hypnose. 1997;13(2):125–32.
24.
Houghton DM. Autogenic training: a self-hypnosis technique to achieve physiological change in a stress management programme. Contemp Hypn. 1996;13(1):39–43.CrossRef
25.
Soskis DA, Orne EC, Orne MT, Dinges DF. Self-hypnosis and meditation for stress management: a brief communication. Int J Clin exp Hypn. 1989;37(4):285–9.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Schoen M, Nowack K. Reconditioning the stress response with hypnosis CD reduces the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and influences resilience: a pilot study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2013;19(2):83–8.CrossRefPubMed
27.
VandeVusse L, Hanson L, Berner MA, White Winters JM. Impact of self-hypnosis in women on select physiologic and psychological parameters. J Obstet, Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2010;39(2):159–68.CrossRef
28.
Wood GJ, Bughi S, Morrison J, Tanavoli S, Tanavoli S, Zadeh HH. Hypnosis, differential expression of cytokines by T-cell subsets, and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Am J Clin Hypn. 2003;45(3):179–96.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Yu CKC. Application of cognitive-behavioural hypnotic treatment for anxiety management in the Chinese. Contemp Hypn. 2005;22(2):104–14.CrossRef
30.
Yu CKC. Cognitive-behavioural hypnotic treatment for managing examination anxiety and facilitating performance. Contemp Hypn. 2006;23(2):72–82.CrossRef
31.
Johansson B, Unestahl LE. Stress reducing regulative effects of integrated mental training with self-hypnosis on the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol in plasma: a pilot study. Contemp Hypn. 2006;23(3):101–10.CrossRef
32.
Johnson VC, Walker LG, Heys SD, Whiting PH, Eremin O. Can relaxation training and hypnotherapy modify the immune response to stress, and is hypnotizability relevant? Contemp Hypn. 1996;13:100–8.CrossRef
33.
Palan BM, Chandwani S. Coping with examination stress through hypnosis: an experimental study. Am J Clin Hypn. 1989;31(3):173–80.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Jambrik Z, Sebastiani L, Picano E, Ghelarducci B, Santarcangelo EL. Hypnotic modulation of flow-mediated endothelial response to mental stress. Int J Psychophysiol. 2005;55(2):221–7.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Charlesworth EA, Murphy S, Beutler LE. Stress management skill for nursing students. J Clin Psychol. 1981;37(2):284–90.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Bowden D, Goddard L, Gruzelier J. A randomised controlled singel-blind trial of the effects of Reiki and positive imagery on well-being and salivary cortisol. Brain res Bull. 2010;81:66–72.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Faymonville ME, Mambourg PH, Joris J, Vrijens B, Fissette J, Albert A, et al. Psychological approaches during conscious sedation. Hypnosis versus stress reducing strategies: a prospective randomized study. Pain. 1997;73(3):361–7.
38.
Pfitzer BE, Clark K, Revenstorf D. [medical hypnosis in cases of herpes labialis improves resistance for recurrence. A pilot study]. Der Hautarzt. Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete. 2005;56(6):562–8.
39.
Swirsky-Sacchetti T, Margolis CG. The effects of a comprehensive self-hypnosis training program on the use of factor VIII in severe hemophilia. Int J Clin exp Hypn. 1986;34(2):71–83.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Taylor DN. Effects of a behavioral stress-management program on anxiety, mood, self-esteem, and T-cell count in HIV positive men. Psychol rep. 1995;76(2):451–7.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Barling NR, Raine SJ. Some effects of hypnosis on negative affect and immune system response. J Clin Exp Hypn. 2005;33(2):160–77.
42.
Cardena E, Svensson C, Hejdstrom F. Hypnotic tape intervention ameliorates stress: a randomized, control study. Int J Clin exp Hypn. 2013;61(2):125–45.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Gruzelier J, Smith F, Nagy A, Henderson D. Cellular and humoral immunity, mood and exam stress: the influences of self-hypnosis and personality predictors. Int J Psychophysiol. 2001;42(1):55–71.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R, Strain EC, Stout JC, Tarr KL, Holliday JE, et al. Modulation of cellular immunity in medical students. J Behav med. 1986;9(1):5–21.
45.
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Marucha PT, Atkinson C, Glaser R. Hypnosis as a modulator of cellular immune dysregulation during acute stress. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2001;69(4):674–82.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Naito A, Laidlaw TM, Henderson DC, Farahani L, Dwivedi P, Gruzelier JH. The impact of self-hypnosis and Johrei on lymphocyte subpopulations at exam time: a controlled study. Brain res Bull. 2003;62(3):241–53.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Stanton HE. Hypnosis and rational-emotive therapy--a de-stressing combination: a brief communication. Int J Clin exp Hypn. 1989;37(2):95–9.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Stanton HE: The reduction in secretarial stress. Contemp Hypn 1991, 8(1).
49.
Whitehouse WG, Dinges DF, Orne EC, Keller SE, Bates BL, Bauer NK, et al. Psychosocial and immune effects of self-hypnosis training for stress management throughout the first semester of medical school. Psychosom med. 1996;58(3):249–63.
50.
Shor R, Orne E. The Harvard group scale of hypnotic susceptibility, form a. CA: Consulting Psychologists: Palo Alto; 1962.
51.
Morgan AH, Hilgard JR. The Stanford hypnotic clinical scale for adults. Am J Clin Hypn. 1978;21(2–3):134–47.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Weitzenhoffer AM, Hilgard ER. Stanford hypnotic susceptibility scale, form C. CA: Consulting Psychologists: Palo Alto; 1962.
53.
Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health soc Behav. 1983;24(4):385–96.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Derogatis LR, Spencer PM. The brief Symptom Inventory (BSI): administration, scoring, and procedures manual I. Clinical Psychometric Research: Baltimore, Md; 1982.
55.
Hammond DC. Hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety- and stress-related disorders. Expert rev Neurother. 2010;10(2):263–73.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Shapiro SL, Shapiro DE, Schwartz GE. Stress management in medical education: a review of the literature. Acad med. 2000;75(7):748–59.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Shiralkar MT, Harris TB, Eddins-Folensbee FF, Coverdale JH. A systematic review of stress-management programs for medical students. Acad Psychiatry. 2013;37(3):158–64.CrossRefPubMed
58.
Edwards D, Burnard P. A systematic review of stress and stress management interventions for mental health nurses. J adv Nurs. 2003;42(2):169–200.CrossRefPubMed
59.
Yapko MD. Essentials of hypnosis. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge; 2015.
60.
Maslach C, Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP. Job burnout. Annu rev Psychol. 2000;52:397–422.CrossRef
61.
Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF. Manual for the depression anxiety stress scales. Psychology Foundation: Sydney; 1995.
62.
Melamed S, Kushnir T, Shirom A: Burnout and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Behav med (Washington, DC) 1992, 18(2):53-60.
63.
Folkman S, Lazarus RR: Ways of coping questionnaire: Consulting Psychologists press; 1988.
64.
Goldberg D, Williams P. A users guide to the general health questionnaire. NFER-Nelson: Slough, United Kingdom; 1988.
65.
66.
Spielberger CD, Gorusch RL, Lushene RD. STAI manual for the state-trait anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto: CA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1970.
67.
Gruzelier J, Croft R, Kaiser J, Burgess A. Personality syndrome rating scale: reliability, validity and experimental evidence. Int J Psychophysiol. 2000;
68.
Shaver P, Furman W, Buhrmester D. Aspects of al life transition: network changes, social skills, and loneliness. In: Duck S, Perlman D, editors. The sage series in personal relationships. Volume 1 ed. London: Sage; 1984.
69.
Watson D, Clark LA, Tellegen A. Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. J Pers soc Psychol. 1988;54(6):1063–70.CrossRefPubMed
70.
Rubenstein CM, Shaver P. The experience of loneliness. In: Peplau LA, Perlman D, editors. Loneliness: a sourcebook of current theory, research, and therapy. New York: Wiley; 1982. p. 206–23.
71.
Bernard ME, Joyce MR, Rosewarne PM. Helping teachers cope with stress. In: Ellis AA, Bernard ME, editors. Rational-emotive approaches to the problems of childhood. New York: Plenum; 1983. p. 415–66.
72.
Francis, Stanley: Stress thermometer. 1989.
73.
McNair DM, Lorr M, Druppleman LF. EITS manual for the profile of mood states. San Diego: Educational and Industrial Test Services; 1971.
74.
Russell D, Peplau LA, Cutrona CE. The revised UCLA loneliness scale: concurrent and discriminant validity evidence. J Pers soc Psychol. 1980;39(3):472–80.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Hypnosis in patients with perceived stress – a systematic review
Authors
S Fisch
B Brinkhaus
M Teut
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1806-0

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017 Go to the issue

Research article

Bioactivity of arid region honey: an in vitro study

Research article

Hypoglycaemic activity of Mathurameha, a Thai traditional herbal formula aqueous extract, and its effect on biochemical profiles of streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats

Research article

Phytochemical analysis with free radical scavenging, nitric oxide inhibition and antiproliferative activity of Sarcocephalus pobeguinii extracts

Research article

Aqueous extract of Peperomia pellucida (L.) HBK accelerates fracture healing in Wistar rats

Correspondence

Validity of a Cochrane Systematic Review and meta-analysis for determining the safety of vitamin E

Research article

Antibacterial activity and effects of Colla corii asini on Salmonella typhimurium invasion in vitro and in vivo