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Research: DICKSON-SPILLMANN and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 217
Abstract
DICKSON-SPILLMANN and COLLEAGUES, Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction ISGF, University of Zurich, Konradstrasse 32, Postfach, 8031 Zurich, Switzerland. maria.dickson@isgf.uzh.ch investigated the efficacy of a single-session of group hypnotherapy for smoking cessation compared to relaxation in Swiss adult smokers.
Background
Despite the popularity of hypnotherapy for smoking cessation, the efficacy of this method is unclear. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a single-session of group hypnotherapy for smoking cessation compared to relaxation in Swiss adult smokers.
Methodology
This was a cluster-randomised, parallel-group, controlled trial. A single session of hypnosis or relaxation for smoking cessation was delivered to groups of smokers (median size = 11). Participants were 223 smokers consuming > 5 cigarettes per day, willing to quit and not using cessation aids (47.1% females, M = 37.5 years [SD = 11.8], 86.1% Swiss). Nicotine withdrawal, smoking abstinence self-efficacy, and adverse reactions were assessed at a 2-week follow-up. The main outcome, self-reported 30-day point prevalence of smoking abstinence, was assessed at a 6-month follow up. Abstinence was validated through salivary analysis. Secondary outcomes included number of cigarettes smoked per day, smoking abstinence self-efficacy, and nicotine withdrawal.
Results
At the 6-month follow up, 14.7% in the hypnosis group and 17.8% in the relaxation group were abstinent. The intervention had no effect on smoking status (p = .73) or on the number of cigarettes smoked per day (p = .56). Smoking abstinence self-efficacy did not differ between the interventions (p = .14) at the 2-week follow-up, but non-smokers in the hypnosis group experienced reduced withdrawal (p = .02). Both interventions produced few adverse reactions (p = .81).
Conclusion
A single session of group hypnotherapy does not appear to be more effective for smoking cessation than a group relaxation session.
References
Dickson-Spillmann M, Haug S and Schaub MP. Group hypnosis vs. relaxation for smoking cessation in adults: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 13:1227, 2013. NLM. PMC3878029 2013. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN72839675.
