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Hypnotherapy in radiotherapy patients: a randomized trial
Lukas J A Stalpers1, Hanna C da Costa, Merijn A E Merbis
1Department of Radiotherapy, Academic Medical Centrum, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands. l.stalpers@amc.uva.nl
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
|January 26, 2005
Summary
Hypnotherapy did not significantly reduce anxiety or improve quality of life in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. However, patients in the hypnotherapy group reported greater improvements in mental and overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychology
- Complementary Medicine
Background:
- Cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy often experience anxiety and reduced quality of life.
- Hypnotherapy is explored as a potential intervention to mitigate these adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of hypnotherapy in reducing anxiety and enhancing quality of life for cancer patients undergoing curative radiotherapy.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 69 cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
- Patients were assigned to either standard radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy plus hypnotherapy sessions.
- Anxiety and quality of life were assessed using validated questionnaires at multiple time points.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in anxiety levels or quality of life were observed between the hypnotherapy and control groups.
- A significantly higher proportion of patients in the hypnotherapy group reported improvements in mental and overall well-being.
Conclusions:
- Hypnotherapy did not demonstrate statistically significant benefits for anxiety or quality of life in this patient cohort.
- The subjective improvements in well-being among hypnotherapy patients may be attributed to non-specific effects, such as increased attention.
- Further research with an attention-control group is recommended to isolate the specific effects of hypnotherapy.