Scientific Basis for Medical Support Hypnotherapy  

Preoperative Use of Hypnosis

One area of particular interest now is the preoperative use of hypnosis to prepare patients for surgery. This has been found to significantly reduce the pain/unpleasantness/discomfort experienced post-operatively as well as reducing the amount of pain medications required, and reducing the overall recovery time. 

A major study of preoperative hypnosis for breast cancer surgery patients was published in September 2007 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,(JNCI Vol. 99, Number 17). This study used only a 15-minute preoperative hypnosis session. The results showed:

• The hypnosis reduced costs to the institution by $772.71 per patient.
• Hypnosis reduced the time in surgery by an average of 10.6 and also showed a significant reduction in use of pain medications that are titrated to patient’s condition.

For the full study, go to:
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/17/1304?maxtoshow

Effects of hypnosis on post-operative hot flashes in breast cancer surgery patients.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 26, No 31 (November 1), 2008: pp. 5008-5010, found: "Hypnosis appears to reduce perceived hot flashes in breast cancer survivors and may have additional benefits such as reduced anxiety and depression, and improved sleep.”

For the full study, go to:
http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/JCO.2008.16.6389v1

The BBC published a story of a man using hypnosis as effective anesthesia for surgical procedure on a smashed bone in the thumb

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/7355569.stm

Hypnosis to relieve IBS symptoms

A wonderful overview of many studies on the effectiveness of hypnosis to relieve IBS symptoms can be found at:

http://www.ibshypnosis.com/IBSresearch.html