Positive Health Online

Abstract

SAADAT and colleagues, Center for the Advancement of Perioperative Health, Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA, have established that hypnosis reduces anxiety before operations.

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of hypnosis on preoperative anxiety in adults.

Methodology

Subjects were randomized into 3 groups, a hypnosis group (n = 26) who received suggestions of well-being; an attention-control group (n = 26) who received attentive listening and support without any specific hypnotic suggestions and a ‘standard of care’ control group (n = 24). Anxiety was measured pre- and postintervention as well as on entrance to the operating rooms.

Results

Patients in the hypnosis group were significantly less anxious after the operation than patients in the attention-control group and the control group (31 +/- 8 versus 37 +/- 9 versus 41 +/- 11, p = 0.008). Moreover, on entrance to the operating rooms, the hypnosis group reported a significant decrease of 56% in their anxiety level whereas the attention-control group reported an increase of 10% in anxiety and the control group reported an increase of 47% in their anxiety (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Hypnosis significantly alleviates preoperative anxiety. Future studies are indicated to examine the effects of preoperative hypnosis on postoperative outcomes.

References

Saadat H, Drummond-Lewis J, Maranets I, Kaplan D, Saadat A, Wang SM, Kain ZN. Hypnosis reduces preoperative anxiety in adult patients. Anesthesia & Analgesia 102 (5): 1394-1346, May 2006.

Comment

Application of hypnosis into general operative protocols could significantly enhance patient well-being.