Editing Hypnotherapy (section)

==Effectiveness==
{{Unbalanced section|date=December 2022}}

=== General ===
According to the [[Royal College of Psychiatrists]],  “studies have shown that hypnotherapy can help to treat a range of physical and mental health conditions” and “ In many cases, hypnotherapy and other uses of suggestion can provide fast, effective treatment.” <ref>{{Cite web |title=Hypnosis and hypnotherapy |url=https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/hypnosis-and-hypnotherapy |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=www.rcpsych.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref>

=== Menopause ===
There is evidence supporting the use of hypnotherapy in the treatment of [[menopause]] related symptoms,<ref>{{Cite web |last=emanatio |date=2023-03-21 |title=Control Symptoms of Menopause |url=https://www.physiotherapies.co.uk/control-symptoms-of-the-menopause/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Physio and Therapies |language=en-US}}</ref> including [[hot flash]]es.<ref>{{Cite web|author=The Royal Women's Hospital|title=CBT and hypnosis effective in treating menopause|url=https://www.thewomens.org.au/news/cbt-and-hypnosis-effective-in-treating-menopause|access-date=2021-09-07|website=The Royal Women's Hospital|language=en|archive-date=2023-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005030359/https://thewomens.org.au/news/cbt-and-hypnosis-effective-in-treating-menopause|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[North American Menopause Society]] recommends hypnotherapy for the nonhormonal management of menopause-associated [[vasomotor]] symptoms, giving it the highest level of evidence.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Nonhormonal management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: 2015 position statement of The North American Menopause Society |journal=Menopause |volume=22 |issue=11 |pages=1155–1172; quiz 1173–1174 |date=November 2015 |pmid=26382310 |doi=10.1097/GME.0000000000000546 |s2cid=14841660}}</ref>

=== Irritable bowel syndrome ===

The use of hypnotherapy in treating the symptoms of [[irritable bowel syndrome]] is supported by research, including randomized controlled trials.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Rutten JM, Reitsma JB, Vlieger AM, Benninga MA |title=Gut-directed hypnotherapy for functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome in children: a systematic review |journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood |volume=98 |issue=4 |pages=252–257 |date=April 2013 |pmid=23220208 |doi=10.1136/archdischild-2012-302906 |s2cid=24758855|doi-access=free }}</ref> Gut-directed hypnotherapy is recommended in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome by the [[American College of Gastroenterology]] clinical guideline for the management of IBS.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, Chey WD, Keefer LA, Long MD, Moshiree B |title=ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome |language=en-US |journal=The American Journal of Gastroenterology |volume=116 |issue=1 |pages=17–44 |date=January 2021 |pmid=33315591 |doi=10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Childbirth===
Hypnotherapy is often applied in [[childbirth|the birthing process]] and the post-natal period,<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|vauthors=Datta S, Kodali BS, Segal S |chapter=Non-pharmacological Methods for Relief of Labor Pain|title=Obstetric Anesthesia Handbook|year=2010|pages=85–93|doi=10.1007/978-0-387-88602-2_7|isbn=978-0-387-88601-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Phillips-Moore J |title=HypnoBirthing |journal=The Australian Journal of Holistic Nursing |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=41–42 |date=April 2005 |pmid=19175270 |url=http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=492196603589508;res=IELHEA |access-date=22 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Wainer N |title=HypnoBirthing. A radical change on our perspective of pain in childbirth |journal=Midwifery Today with International Midwife |issue=55 |pages=36–38 |year=2000 |pmid=11189565 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Caitlin |date=2018-10-01 |title=Water for Labour and Birth: Enhancing Experience, Enhancing Birth |url=https://doi.org/10.55975/qmtl8164 |journal=The Practising midwife |volume=21 |issue=9 |doi=10.55975/qmtl8164 |issn=1461-3123}}</ref> but there is insufficient evidence to determine if it alleviates pain during childbirth<ref name=Cochrane2012/><ref name="CochraneLabour2016">{{Cite journal |title=Hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth |journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |last1=Madden |first1=Kelly |date=2016-05-19 |last2=Middleton |first2=Philippa |last3=Cyna |first3=Allan M |last4=Matthewson |first4=Mandy |last5=Jones |first5=Leanne|volume=2016 |issue=5 |pages=CD009356 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009356.pub3 |pmid=27192949 |pmc=7120324 }}</ref> and no evidence that it is effective against post-natal depression.<ref name=Cochrane2012b>{{cite journal |vauthors=Sado M, Ota E, Stickley A, Mori R |title=Hypnosis during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period for preventing postnatal depression |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=CD009062 |date=June 2012 |pmid=22696381 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009062.pub2 |veditors=Sado M|pmc=11687355 }}</ref>

===Bulimia===
Literature shows that a wide variety of hypnotic interventions have been investigated for the treatment of [[bulimia nervosa]], with inconclusive effects.<ref name=pmid22655335>{{cite journal |vauthors=Barabasz M |title=Cognitive hypnotherapy with bulimia |journal=The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=353–364 |date=April 2012 |pmid=22655335 |doi=10.1080/00029157.2012.658122 |s2cid=24728801}}</ref> Similar studies have shown that groups suffering from bulimia nervosa, undergoing hypnotherapy, were more exceptional to no treatment, placebos, or other alternative treatments.<ref name=pmid22655335 />

===Anxiety===
Hypnotherapy is shown to be comparable in effectiveness to other forms of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, that utilize relaxation techniques and imagery.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Golden WL |title=Cognitive hypnotherapy for anxiety disorders |journal=The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=263–274 |date=April 2012 |pmid=22655330 |doi=10.1080/00029157.2011.650333 |s2cid=35862090}}</ref> It has also shown to be successful when used to reduce anxiety in those with dental anxiety and phobias.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Wolf |first1=Thomas Gerhard |last2=Schläppi |first2=Sina |last3=Benz |first3=Carla Irene |last4=Campus |first4=Guglielmo |date=2022-04-20 |title=Efficacy of Hypnosis on Dental Anxiety and Phobia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |journal=Brain Sciences |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=521 |doi=10.3390/brainsci12050521 |pmid=35624907 |pmc=9138388 |issn=2076-3425|doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== PTSD ===
[[File:Pr Charcot DSC09405.jpg|thumb|Professor Charcot, his students, and a woman experiencing hysteria.]]
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its symptoms have been shown to improve due to the implementation of hypnotherapy, in both the long and short term.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rotaru |first1=Tudor-Ștefan |last2=Rusu |first2=Andrei |date=2016-01-02 |title=A Meta-Analysis for the Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in Alleviating PTSD Symptoms |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2015.1099406 |journal=International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis |volume=64 |issue=1 |pages=116–136 |doi=10.1080/00207144.2015.1099406 |issn=0020-7144 |pmid=26599995|s2cid=3928310 }}</ref> As research continues, hypnotherapy is being more openly considered as an effective intervention for those with PTSD.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lynn |first1=Steven Jay |last2=Malakataris |first2=Anne |last3=Condon |first3=Liam |last4=Maxwell |first4=Reed |last5=Cleere |first5=Colleen |date=April 2012 |title=Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Cognitive Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness, and Acceptance-Based Treatment Approaches |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2011.645913 |journal=American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=311–330 |doi=10.1080/00029157.2011.645913 |pmid=22655333 |s2cid=20814289 |issn=0002-9157}}</ref>

=== Depression ===
Hypnotherapy is effective when used to treat long-term depressive symptoms. It is comparable to the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and when used in tandem, efficacy seems to increase.<ref>{{Cite book |last=A. |first=Chapman, Robin |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/60671838 |title=The clinical use of hypnosis in cognitive behavior therapy: a practitioner's casebook |date=2006 |publisher=Springer Pub |isbn=0-8261-2884-X |oclc=60671838}}</ref>

===Other uses===

Historically hypnotism was used therapeutically by some [[Psychiatry|psychiatrists]] in the Victorian era, to treat the condition then known as [[hysteria]].<ref name="Crimlisk">{{Cite journal |title=Conversion hysteria: History, diagnostic issues, and clinical practice |journal=Cognitive Neuropsychiatry |vauthors=Crimlisk HL, Ron MA |pages=165–180 |volume=4 |issue=3 |year=1999 |doi=10.1080/135468099395909}}</ref>

Modern hypnotherapy has been used to treat certain habit disorders and control irrational fears,<ref name="Crawford">{{Cite book |chapter=Phobias and intense fears: Facilitating their treatment with hypnosis |vauthors=Crawford HJ, Barabasz AF |veditors=Rhue JW, Lynn SJ, Kirsch I |year=1993 |title=Handbook of clinical hypnosis |pages=311–337 |location=Washington, DC, US |publisher=American Psychological Association |doi=10.1037/10274-015|isbn=978-1-55798-440-1}}</ref> and [[addiction]].<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Katz NW |title=Hypnosis and the addictions: a critical review |journal=Addictive Behaviors |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=41–47 |date=1980-01-01 |pmid=6994434 |doi=10.1016/0306-4603(80)90020-9}}</ref>

* A 2003 meta-analysis on the efficacy of hypnotherapy concluded that "the efficacy of hypnosis is not verified for a considerable part of the spectrum of psychotherapeutic practice."<ref name=flammer>{{cite journal| vauthors=Flammer E, Bongartz W |title=On the efficacy of hypnosis: a meta-analytic study.|journal=Contemporary Hypnosis|volume=20|issue=4|year=2003|pages=179–197|url=http://www.hypnose-kikh.de/content/Metaanalyse-Flammer-2004.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222004606/http://www.hypnose-kikh.de/content/Metaanalyse-Flammer-2004.pdf|archive-date=22 February 2016|url-status=dead|doi=10.1002/ch.277}}</ref>
* In 2007, a meta-analysis from the Cochrane Collaboration found that the therapeutic effect of hypnotherapy was "superior to that of a waiting list control or usual medical management, for abdominal pain and composite primary IBS symptoms, in the short term in patients who fail standard medical therapy", with no harmful side-effects. However, the authors noted that the quality of data available was inadequate to draw firm conclusions.<ref name=Cochrane2007>{{cite journal |vauthors=Webb AN, Kukuruzovic RH, Catto-Smith AG, Sawyer SM |title=Hypnotherapy for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=4 |pages=CD005110 |date=October 2007 |pmid=17943840 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD005110.pub2}}</ref>
* Two Cochrane reviews in 2012 concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support its efficacy in managing the pain of childbirth<ref name=Cochrane2012>{{cite journal |vauthors=Jones L, Othman M, Dowswell T, Alfirevic Z, Gates S, Newburn M, Jordan S, Lavender T, Neilson JP |display-authors=6 |title=Pain management for women in labour: an overview of systematic reviews |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=CD009234 |date=March 2012 |pmid=22419342 |pmc=7132546 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009234.pub2 |veditors=Neilson JP}}</ref> or post-natal depression.<ref name=Cochrane2012b/>
* A 2014 meta-analysis that focused on hypnotherapy's efficacy on irritable bowel syndrome found that it was beneficial for short-term abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal issues.'''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Han Hee |last2=Choi |first2=Yoon Young |last3=Choi |first3=Myung-Gyu |date=April 2014 |title=The Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |journal=Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=152–162 |doi=10.5056/jnm.2014.20.2.152 |issn=2093-0879 |pmc=4015203 |pmid=24840368}}</ref>'''
* In 2016, a literature review published in ''[[La Presse Médicale]]'' found that there is not sufficient evidence to "support the efficacy of hypnosis in chronic anxiety disorders".<ref name="Pelissolo">{{cite journal |vauthors=Pelissolo A |title=Hypnosis for anxiety and phobic disorders: A review of clinical studies |journal=Presse Médicale |volume=45 |issue=3 |pages=284–290 |date=March 2016 |pmid=26944812 |doi=10.1016/j.lpm.2015.12.002}}</ref>
* In 2019, a Cochrane review was unable to find evidence of a benefit of hypnosis in smoking cessation and suggested that if there is, it is small at best.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Barnes J, McRobbie H, Dong CY, Walker N, Hartmann-Boyce J |title=Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2019 |issue=6 |pages=CD001008 |date=June 2019 |pmid=31198991 |pmc=6568235 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001008.pub3 |collaboration=Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group}}</ref>
* A 2019 meta-analysis of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety found that "the average participant receiving hypnosis reduced anxiety more than about 79% of control participants,"<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2019 |title=THE EFFICACY OF HYPNOSIS AS A TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY: A META-ANALYSIS |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31251710/ |journal=The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis |volume=67 |issue=3 |pages=336–363 |doi=10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863 |issn=1744-5183 |pmid=31251710}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Checklist |first=Anxiety |title=Hypnotherapy: Your Secret Weapon Against Anxiety Disorders {{!}} Anxiety Checklist |url=https://anxietychecklist.com/hypnotherapy-anxiety |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=anxietychecklist.com |language=en}}</ref> also noting that "hypnosis was more effective in reducing anxiety when combined with other psychological interventions than when used as a stand-alone treatment."<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Valentine KE, Milling LS, Clark LJ, Moriarty CL |title=The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: ''a meta-analysis'' |journal=The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis |volume=67 |issue=3 |pages=336–363 |date=July 2019 |pmid=31251710 |doi=10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863 |s2cid=195763179}}</ref>