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Hypnosis in Anesthesia: A Systematic Literature Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Anna Waehner1, Lisa Bügers1, Christian Volberg1,2
1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Summary
Hypnosis shows promise as an adjunctive therapy in anesthesia, particularly for reducing anxiety in pediatric and dental patients. While not effective for pain in obstetrics, its benefits in other areas warrant further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Psychology
Background:
- Hypnosis has historical use in anesthesia but lacks widespread clinical adoption.
- Individual studies suggest favorable outcomes, necessitating a comprehensive review.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and quantify the effects of hypnosis across various anesthetic domains.
- To assess the efficacy of hypnosis as an adjunct in obstetrics, pediatrics, and dentistry.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a systematic literature search across major databases (Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane).
- Included only randomized controlled trials investigating hypnosis in anesthesia.
- Analyzed data from 19 studies involving 3,699 patients.
Main Results:
- Hypnosis significantly reduced preoperative and intraoperative anxiety in pediatric and dental patients.
- A partial reduction in postoperative pain was observed in pediatric and dental settings.
- No significant beneficial impact of hypnosis on pain was found in obstetrics.
Conclusions:
- Hypnosis shows potential as a beneficial adjunct in specific anesthetic areas, notably pediatrics and dentistry.
- The current evidence base relies on a limited number of high-quality studies.
- Further research is needed to fully establish hypnosis's role in anesthesia.
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