Does hypnotherapy work pain

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Research Analysis by Consensus

Consensus Meter

Yes0%

Possibly0%

No0%

Introduction

Hypnotherapy has been explored as a treatment for various types of pain, including chronic pain, procedural pain, and pain associated with specific conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). This synthesis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in pain management based on multiple research studies.

Key Insights

Effectiveness in Chronic Pain Management:
- Hypnotherapy consistently produces significant decreases in pain associated with various chronic pain conditions and is often more effective than non-hypnotic interventions such as attention, physical therapy, and education .
- It improves pain-related function and quality of life outcomes to a greater extent than other psychological interventions or usual treatments.
Effectiveness in Specific Conditions:
- Hypnotherapy significantly reduces pain intensity and improves overall well-being in patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP).
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy is highly effective in reducing pain intensity and frequency in children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with long-lasting effects.
Effectiveness in Disability-Related Pain:
- Hypnotherapy shows significant short-term improvements in fatigue, pain experience, and affect in disability-related pain, although long-term benefits are less clear.
Effectiveness in Procedural Pain:
- Hypnotherapy can effectively reduce pain and distress in children undergoing medical procedures, particularly in oncology and needle procedures.
Postoperative Pain Management:
- Hypnotherapy tends to reduce postoperative pain, especially in minor surgical procedures, and is recommended as a non-pharmacological pain management strategy.

Conclusion

Hypnotherapy appears to be a viable and effective treatment option for various types of pain, including chronic pain, pain associated with specific conditions like NCCP and IBS, disability-related pain, procedural pain in children, and postoperative pain. While it shows significant short-term benefits, further research is needed to confirm its long-term efficacy and to standardize hypnotic interventions.