Exploratory Controlled Study of the Impact of a Hypnosis-Based Intervention on the Couple’s Communication and Coping in the Context of Cancer

Abstract

Emotional distress, communication, and dyadic coping difficulties are common among cancer patients and their partners. Hypnosis-based interventions can improve emotional distress in patients. We designed a group intervention combining self-hypnosis and self-care techniques. We hypothesized an effect of the intervention on emotional distress, conjugal communication, and dyadic coping, considered in patients and their partners. Our exploratory controlled study included 55 women with cancer and 55 partners. Participants completed questionnaires before and after the intervention, which was delivered to patients only. No significant effect of the intervention was revealed for patients or partners. Positive correlations between patients' and partners' communication and dyadic coping were revealed. However, to address couples' or partners' difficulties, interventions specifically designed for couples or partners must be tested.

Paradigm’s relevance in empirical research biases: Hypnotizability, resilience, and self-control, an empty systematic review.

“…In our view, our findings of an empty review are striking for the following reasons: (a) some studies have used hypnosis to improve aspects such as quality of life in patients in palliative care (Brugnoli, 2016;G. Elkins et al, 2012;Facco et al, 2018); (b) there are also studies showing that hypnosis improves the results of the interventions that use hypnosis as an adjuvant (Franch et al, 2023;Grégoire et al, 2021;Ramondo et al, 2021); and (c) there are studies that used hypnosis to increase resilience and coping skills (Facco et al, 2018;Peter et al, 2018;Schoen & Nowack, 2013). Consequently, we encourage the scientific This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”