Hypnosis relieves pain, reduces mental distress and promotes recovery after surgical interventions - this has been shown in a meta-analysis recently published in Clinical Psychology Review. By evaluating 50 individual studies with over 4000 patients, scientists from Jena and Leipzig examined the efficacy of hypnosis in the context of surgical interventions.
Jena (UKJ/vdG) The use of hypnosis in patients undergoing surgery has been studied for more than 50 years. In the specific context of surgery, hypnosis aims to reduce mental distress and pain and to promote recovery. In a currently published meta-analysis, scientists from the university hospitals in Jena and Leipzig have now summarized the current evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for surgical patients.
As early as 2013, the research group of Dr. Jenny Rosendahl confirmed positive effects of hypnosis in patients undergoing surgery. Since then, numerous further studies have been carried out worldwide, which have now also been considered in order to complete and update the picture. A total of 50 randomized-controlled studies with 4,269 patients, including 23 new studies, were selected based on pre-defined criteria and their results were summarized.
In these studies, the patients had received hypnosis in addition to standard care before, during, or after surgery. This included, for example, gynecological or cardiac surgery as well as diagnostic procedures such as biopsies. “In most of the studies, hypnosis was performed by a present therapist, but also self-hypnosis with the help of a CD was applied. Usually it lasted about 30 minutes,” Mareike Holler says about the studies, that she analyzed as part of her dissertation at the Institute for Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology at Jena University Hospital.