Hypnosis for Acute Procedural Pain: A Critical Review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Pain Management
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Acute procedural pain is a common challenge in healthcare.
• Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to manage pain effectively.
• Hypnosis has been proposed as a potential pain management technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate clinical evidence on hypnosis for acute procedural pain.
• To assess the effectiveness of hypnosis against control groups and other therapies.
• To identify factors influencing hypnosis efficacy in pain management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and critical evaluation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
• Inclusion of 29 RCTs meeting specific criteria.
• Comparison of hypnosis outcomes against standard care, attention controls, and other psychological therapies.

Main Results:

• Hypnosis significantly decreased pain compared to standard care and attention controls.
• Hypnosis demonstrated comparable effectiveness to other adjunct psychological therapies.
• Multiple pre-procedure hypnosis sessions were most effective, particularly for minor surgical procedures.

Conclusions:

• Hypnosis is an effective intervention for reducing acute procedural pain.
• Optimal efficacy is observed with multiple sessions prior to procedures, especially minor surgeries.
• Further high-quality research with controlled conditions is needed to mitigate bias and strengthen evidence.