CAM: Hypnosis

Intro and Background
Mind-body techniques are slowly gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine as effective ways to lesson the secondary side effects and symptoms of various diseases. Different types of these mind body techniques include hypnosis, relaxation techniques, meditation, guided imagery, and biofeedback. Hypnosis can be defined as a procedure where a therapist suggests that a patient experience changes in sensation, thought, and behavior that may not be accessible normally to the conscious mind. ⁽¹⁾ Not everyone can be hypnotized, as some people are more prone to suggestibility than others. ⁽²⁾ Adverse reactions to hypnosis depend on the individual as well including headache, reliving an emotionally difficult past event, triggering schizophrenia, and memory lost. ^{(2) (3)} It is not known exactly how hypnosis works but it appears to work on the region of the brain that is responsible for consciousness. ⁽⁴⁾

Scientific Research
In cancer patients, hypnosis and other mind-body techniques have been shown to improve the quality of life, mood, and coping ability. ⁽⁵⁾ Studies have also displayed hypnosis's ability to decrease pain, anxiety, hot-flashes, nausea, and vomiting. ^{(6) (7) (8) (2)} Hypnosis has been found to be able to strengthen the immune system of cancer patients. However, studies have not been able show that this change improves survival time or decreases disease progression. ⁽⁹⁾

Currently, hypnosis is being investigated for its ability to help several side effects of cancer and cancer treatment such as hot flashes, dry mouth, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. ⁽¹⁰⁾ For information about ongoing clinical trials involving hypnosis, please visit our section on Finding Clinical Trials.

US Food and Administration Approval
In general, hypnosis has been approved by the National Institutes of Health for the treatment of chronic pain and insomnia. ⁽¹¹⁾ However, there is not enough evidence to support that hypnosis is effective in the fight against cancer and it has not been approved by the FDA for cancer treatment. ⁽¹²⁾

1. Bardia A, Barton DL, Prokop LJ, Baur BA, Moynihan TJ. Efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine therapies in relieving cancer pain: a systematic review. J Clin Oncol. (2006) 24(34): 5457-64 [PUBMED]
2. Gruzelier J. Unwanted effects of hypnosis: a review of the evidence and its complications. Contemporary Hypnosis (2000). 17(4): 163-93.
3. Kihlstrom JF. Hypnosis, memory and amnesia. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. (1997) 352(1362): 1727-32. [PUBMED]
4. Rainville P, Price DD. Hypnosis phenomenology and the neurobiology of consciousness. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. (2003). 51(2): 105-29 [PUBMED]
5. Classen C, Butler LD, Koopman C, et al. Supportive-expressive group therapy and distress in patients with metastatic breast cancer: a randomized clinical intervention trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry (2001) 58: 494-501 [PUBMED]
6. Astin JA, Shapiro SL, Eisenberg DM, Forys KL. Mind-body medicine: state of the science, implications for practice. J Am Board Fam Pract. (2003). 16(2): 131-47. [PUBMED]
7. Neron S, Stephenson R. Effectiveness of hypnotherapy with cancer patients' trajectory: emesis, acute pain, and analgesia and anxiolysis in procedures. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. (2007) 55(3): 336-54. [PUBMED]
8. Elkins G, White J, Patel P, Marcus J, Perfect MM, Montgomery GH. Hypnosis to manage anxiety and pain associated with colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening: Case studies and possible benefits. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. (2006) 54(4): 416-31 [PUBMED]
9. Walker LG, Walker MB, Ogston K, et al. Psychological, clinical and pathological effects of relaxation training and guided imagery during primary chemotherapy. Br J Cancer (1999) 80: 262 8. [PUBMED]
10. National Library of Medicine. (2007). ClinicalTrials.gov Retrieved June 6, 2007 from the National Institutes of Health. Web Site: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search;jsessionid=C7A2AF96B6A98F522EC69182AD992021?term=hypnosis%2C+cancer
11. Anonymous. Integration of behavioral and relaxation approaches into the treatment of chronic pain and insomnia. NIH Technology Assessment Panel on Integration of Behavioral and Relaxation Approaches into the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia. JAMA (1996) 276 (4):313-8. [PUBMED]
12. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hypnotherapy Devices- Self Hypnotic Recordings. Fda.gov. Accessed June 26, 2007. Web site: http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdev/cpg335-300.html