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"To cross the bridge of unlimited possibilities and find your true reality"
Hypnotherapy Studies
A recent study at the
University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque
shows the effectiveness of the
Academy's hypnotherapy methods in comparison to behavioral therapy alone. The
population studied was women who suffer with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome.
OAB syndrome, affecting 17% of all women in the United States, is experienced as
urinary urgency, increased frequency, nocturia (need to urinate often at night),
and sometimes with incontinence. Along with the physical symptoms, women with
OAB also experience stress, embarrassment and decreased self-esteem.
Academy associate hypnotherapy instructor, medical researcher and Chief of
Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dr. Robert Sapien, designed the study using the
methodology developed by Tim Simmerman Sierra, co-Director of the Hypnotherapy
Academy. Sapien said the objective of the study "was to gather data to compare
hypnotherapy to a proven standard treatment, in this case, behavioral therapy."
Conclusion: both groups showed improvement with treatment; however, the
hypnotherapy group showed significantly higher scores in the effective relief of
symptoms and improvement in quality of life, than the behavior therapy group.
The hypnotherapy group had an overall improvement of 67% (in only three
sessions), while the behavioral therapy group only 42% improvement.
The research team (Yuko M. Komesu, MD; Robert E. Sapien, MD; Rebecca G. Rogers,
MD; and Loren H. Ketai, MD) concluded: "This pilot study is notable in that the
hypnotherapy group had superior global improvement in their OAB symptoms
compared with behavioral therapy alone."
Dr. Sapien added as a side note, that the group of women in the study who did
not receive hypnotherapy (the control group) indicated that they were
disappointed that they did not receive hypnotherapy. After the study was
completed, they were given the option of returning to have the hypnotherapy
protocol. All of the women chose to return for the added benefit of
hypnotherapy.
One area of particular interest now
is the preoperative use of hypnosis to prepare patients for surgery. This has
been found to significantly reduce the pain/unpleasantness/discomfort
experienced post-operatively as well as reducing the amount of pain medications
required, and reducing the overall recovery time.
A major study of preoperative
hypnosis for breast cancer surgery patients was published in September 2007 in
the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,(JNCI Vol. 99, Number 17). This
study used only a 15-minute preoperative hypnosis session. The results showed:
For the full study, go
to:
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/17/1304?maxtoshow
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 26, No 31
(November 1), 2008: pp. 5008-5010, found: "Hypnosis appears to reduce perceived
hot flashes in breast cancer survivors and may have additional benefits such as
reduced anxiety and depression, and improved sleep.”
For the full study, go to:
http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/JCO.2008.16.6389v1
A wonderful overview of
many studies on the effectiveness of hypnosis to relieve IBS symptoms can be
found at:
http://www.ibshypnosis.com/IBSresearch.html
Disclaimer:
Hypnotherapy is an educational and self-improvement process that facilitates access to a person's internal resources to assist him/her in solving problems, increasing motivation, or altering behavior patterns to create positive change.
Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical treatment or psychotherapy. Barbara Stafford does not practice medicine or psychotherapy and her services are not a replacement for counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatric or medical treatment. No service or product provided is intended to diagnose or treat any disease or illness, psychological or mental health condition. Medical support hypnotherapy is used only as an adjunct to conventional medical treatment. Consultation with a licensed physician is required before medical support hypnotherapy services are provided.
Hypnotherapy is a
proven, adjunctive method to complement such ongoing treatment and care. Because
hypnosis and hypnotherapy are a series of self-help skills and their
effectiveness depends on the client, no guarantee can be made regarding results
of their use.