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Research: STALPERS and co-workers,
Listed in Issue 119
Abstract
STALPERS and co-workers, Department of Radiotherapy, Academic Medical Centrum, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands, l.stalpers@amc.uva.nl, have conducted a trial of hypnotherapy in radiotherapy patients.
Background
The aim of the study was to determine whether hypnotherapy could reduce anxiety and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Methodology
69 patients were randomized to either radiotherapy alone (36 patients) or radiotherapy plus hypnotherapy (33 patients). Hypnotherapy was delivered at the start of the trial, before the radiotherapy simulation, before the first radiotherapy session, and halfway through the trial. Anxiety was measured by State-Trait anxiety Inventory at six different times, and quality of life was measured by the SF-36 at five different times. In addition, patients were asked about their experience and possible benefits.
Results
No statistically significant differences were found between patients in the two groups either in anxiety or in quality of life. However significantly more patients in the hypnotherapy group indicated that their mental and overall wellbeing was improved.
Conclusion
Hypnotherapy did not reduce anxiety or improve quality of life in this study, but improved patients' own sense of wellbeing. It could not be excluded that the increase in sense of wellbeing by hypnotherapy patients could be due to extra time spent with a health professional and attention. An Attention-Only control would be indicated in future studies.
References
Stalpers LJ, da Costa HC, Merbis MA, Fortuin AA, Muller MJ, van Dam FS. Hypnotherapy in radiotherapy patients: a randomized trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 61 (2): 499-506, Feb 1, 2005.
Comment
Quality-of-Life (QOL) and Wellbeing are almost interchangeable terms in everyday parlance, hence the disparate conclusions that QOL was not affected, but that patients experienced an enhanced sense of wellbeing is confusing. The instrument used to score QOL, the Rand Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Health Survey (SF-36) is more an index of which tasks people can perform for themselves, i.e. activities such as walking and climbing the stairs, whereas sense of wellbeing describes more how patients feel in themselves.
