Hypnosis as a part of holistic medical treatment: a systematic review

Abstract

Aim of the study: Analysis of the worldwide reports about possibilities and current usage of hypnosis in conventional medicine. Material and methods: A systematic literature search has been conducted on the PubMed database for meta-analyses and clinical trials. A total of 196 full-text articles were screened. The inclusion criteria, such as hypnosis had to be used in medical procedures as the main method of therapy, the study was either a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or clinical trial, there were measures of the effect of hypnosis and the intervention was compared to either other psychological intervention, standard treatment or placebo, were covered by 13 articles. The Google Scholar search engine was used to extract additional materials for explanatory reasons. Results: The use of hypnosis has been found in several fields of medicine, mainly in pediatrics and gastroenterology. It was mostly used to elevate patients' life quality by lowering or eliminating pain, distress, depression, and anxiety. It has been found that hypnosis was used also in more complex procedures such as anesthesia or accelerating wound healing. Conclusions: It is crucial for current medical practice not to underestimate the possibilities of a beneficial outcome for hypnosis use in different medical conditions. Overall strong evidence was provided that hypnosis is not a form of charlatanry, but an evidence-based medical procedure.