I get asked a great deal about the kinds of studies and research that are useful to explore or quote when hypnotherapy is discussed. I often refer to a handout that I was given by Donald Robertson a number of years ago.
It contained a number of studies used to assess whether hypnosis can be considered specific, effective or possible as an empirically-supported treatment and although there are numerous other studies, these were the ones highlighted and included in “What we can do with hypnosis: a brief note” by David Wark in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis back in 2008. I thought you might quite like to see it and hopefully benefit from it as much as I have done throughout the years:
Hypnotherapy as Empirically-Supported Treatment (EST)
Ratings using Chambless & Hollon (1998) criteria reviewed by David M. Wark (2008)
Ratings derived from the review published by Wark (2008), in which the references and criteria are given in full.: Wark, David M. “What we can do with hypnosis: a brief note”, American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, July 2008.
“Specific” empirically supported treatments | |||
Anxiety about asthma attack | Brown, 2007 | ||
Headaches and migraine | Relaxation + image modification > wait list control | ||
“Effective” empirically-supported treatments | |||
Cancer pain | Syrjala et al., 1992 | ||
Distress during surgery | Hypnosis reduces distress & pain > controls | Lang et al., 2006 | |
Surgery pain (adult) | Self-hypnosis reduces drug use > attention control | Lang et al., 1996 | |
Surgery pain (child) | Hypnosis reduces pain + hospital time > control | Lambert, 1996 | |
Weight reduction | Hypnosis + CBT > CBT, differences increase over time | Kirsch, 1996 | |
“Possible” empirically-supported treatments | |||
Acute pain (adult) | Patterson & Jensen 2003 | ||
Acute pain (children) | Hypnosis > distraction for bone aspiration | Zelter & LaBaron, 1982 | |
Anorexia | Staged treatment with hypnosis > same without hyp | Baker & Nash, 1987 | |
Anxiety about public speaking | Hypnosis > CBT | Schoenberger et al, 1997 | |
Anxiety about taking a test | Self-hypnosis > discussion control | Stanton, 1994 | |
Asthma | Hypnosis > attention control | Ewer & Stewart, 1986 | |
Bed wetting | Suggestion with/without hypno > wait list control | Edwards & Spuy 1986 | |
Bulimia | Hypnosis = CBT > wait list | Griffiths et al, 1996 | |
Chemotherapy distress | Hypnosis > conversation + antiemetic medication | Jacknow et al, 1994 | |
Cystic fibrosis | Self-hypnosis > wait list control | Belsky & Khanna, 1994 | |
Depression | Hypnosis enhances CNT | Alladin & Alibhai, 2007 | |
Duodenal ulcer relapse | Hypnosis + medication > medication only | Colgan et al, 1988 | |
Fibromyalgia | Hypnosis > physical therapy, subjective symptoms | Haanen et al, 1991 | |
Haemorrhage | Preoperative suggestion reduces blood flow | Enqvist et al., 1995 | |
High blood-pressure | Hypnosis > wait list in reducing BP long term | Gay, 2007 | |
Hip & knee osteoarthritis pain | Hypnosis = relaxation > wait list control | Gay et al, 2002 | |
Insomnia (primary) | Hypnosis + CBT > medication long-term | Graci & Hardie, 2007 | |
Irritable bowel syndrome | Hypnosis > psychotherapy | Whorwell et al, 1984 | |
Nausea & hyperemesis | Hypnotic-like relaxation > control | Lyles et al, 1982 | |
Obstetrics Apgar score | Hypnosis associated with higher Apgar score | Harmon et al, 1990 | |
Obstetrics pain | Hypnosis shortens labour & reduces analgesic use | Jenkins & Pritchard, 1983 | |
Smoking cessation | Hypnosis or relaxation > wait list controls | Schubert, 1983 | |
Trauma recovery | Desensitisation = hypnosis = psychodynamic > control | Brom et al, 1989 | |
Wart removal | Suggestion with/without hyp > control or medication | Spanos et al, 1990 | |
Plenty to geek out about there, eh?
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Really useful stuff -thanks v.much
Thanks Colin, good hearing from you, A.
Would love to see this document as a wiki with up-to-date information 🙂
Thanks for the resource!
Thanks Jeremy. There is some criteria to be met in order to officially be permitted to term something “empirically supported treatment” and though the body of evidence we have in our field is growing, much of the research does not often qualify as an EST.
Best wishes, A.
Thanks Adam,
That is a useful.
Also I would highlight the following meta analysis:
ON THE EFFICACY OF HYPNOSIS: A META-ANALYTIC STUDY
Erich Flammer and Walter Bongartz, 2003
Best regards,
Thorbjorn
Thank you Thorbjorn, best wishes to you, Adam.