As interest in hypnotherapy grows, largely due to the great success of the practice, scientists have put it to the test.  Here you will find a frequently updated list of research studies conducted to prove the powerful effects of hypnotherapy in various areas of focus.

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* Please note that this is but a small chunk of the vast research available.  More research can be found in the Intensives sections that pertain to the issue you are seeking help with. *

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Smoking Cessation

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 90.6% Success Rate for Smoking Cessation Using Hypnosis

 

39 out of 43 consecutive patients undergoing hypnosis for smoking cessation remained abstinent from tobacco during the follow-up, which was 6 months to 3 years post-treatment.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11430159/

 

87% Reported Abstinence from Tobacco Using Hypnosis

 

Of 93 men and 93 women using hypnosis for smoking cessation, 86% of the men and 87% of the women remained abstinent from tobacco during the follow-up, which was 3 months.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7862796/

 

81% Reported To Have Stopped Smoking Using Hypnosis

 

21 patients received hypnosis for smoking cessation; 81% reported that they had stopped smoking.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14768970/

 

Patients Using Hypnosis Twice as Likely to Remain Smoke Free After Two Years

 

A study of 71 smokers showed that at a two-year follow up, patients who used hypnosis to quit smoking were twice as likely to remain abstinent of tobacco than those who quit on their own.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16235865/

 

Hypnosis Shows More Effectiveness Than Drugs for Smoking Cessation

 

While group hypnosis sessions have a less effective success rate than individual sessions, they still have a higher success rate than drug interventions.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11011498/

 

Largest Smoking Cessation Study Ever: Hypnosis Shown Most Effective – 3 Times as Effective as the Patch, 15 Times as Effective as Willpower

 

The largest study ever conducted on smoking cessation says that hypnosis is the most effective way to quit.  This study combined the results of 633 studies of 71,806 people.  Hypnosis was over three times as effective as the patch and fifteen times as effective as trying to quit on your own.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1387394/

 

 

Weight Loss

 

 

Hypnosis Is Over 30 Times More Effective for Weight Loss

 

A study of 60 females, 20% overweight, showed that an average of 17 pounds was lost by the hypnosis group versus an average of 0.5 pounds lost by the control group.

 

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1986-30794-001

 

Hypnosis Continues Weight Loss Two Years Later

 

A study of 109 people for a behavioral treatment for weight loss showed that after the 9-week program at the 8-month and 2-year follow-ups, the hypnosis subjects continued to lose significant weight, while those who only experienced behavioral treatment showed little change.

 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/1097-4679(198501)41:1%3C35::AID-JCLP2270410107%3E3.0.CO;2-Z

 

Hypnosis More Than Doubles Average Weight Loss

 

Adding hypnosis to CBT for weight reduction in two studies were analyzed, indicating that the benefits of hypnosis substantially increase over time.

 

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-05271-012

 

Hypnosis Indicated Significantly Lower Post-Treatment Weights

 

Two studies compared overweight women in a hypnosis-based weight loss program, in which the clients of both studies achieved significant weight losses and decrease of the BMI.  Follow-ups replicated the significant weight losses and decrease of the BMI.  Hypnosis has been shown to yield significantly lower post-treatment weights and a greater average number of pounds lost.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9198396/

 

Hypnosis Doubles Effects of Traditional Weight Loss Approaches

 

Five weight loss studies were analyzed to show that the weight loss reported in these studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches.

 

https://eric.ed.gov/?q=hypnotic&ff1=autKirsch%2c+Irving&id=EJ532063

 

 

Pain

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Hypnosis Reduces Intensity and Frequency of Migraines

 

A study comparing Stemetil, a migraine drug, and hypnosis as migraine treatment, showed that the group who received hypnosis had significantly lower blinding attacks.

 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207147508416172

 

Hypnosis Speeds Up Surgery Recovery & Reduces Pain

 

Clinical experience has shown that after using hypnosis in more than 1400 patients undergoing surgery, using hypnosis as an adjunct to conscious sedation and local anesthesia was associated with improved comfort, reduced anxiety & pain, and faster recovery.

 

https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/26747

 

Hypnosis Reduces Intensity of Pain

 

Application of hypnotic analgesia reduced the report of pain intensity significantly more than the report of pain unpleasantness.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7561229/

 

Hypnosis Reduces Headache Pain & Anxiety

 

A single-blind time controlled study of the treatment of chronic tension-type headaches with hypnotherapy showed significant reduction in the number of headache days, hours, and intensity, as well as a significant reduction in anxiety.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1769828/

 

Hypnosis Reduces Post-Treatment Pain in Burn Injuries

 

This study of sixty-one patients hospitalized for severe burns shows that patients in the hypnosis group reported less post-treatment pain than control patients.  This study was used to replicate earlier studies of burn pain hypnoanalgesia.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9103735/

 

Hypnosis Reduces Phantom Limb Pain

 

Two case reports found that hypnotic procedures are useful in treating phantom limb pain by using two imagery-based approaches to treat the limb as a ‘real’ body part while avoiding treating the amputated area as the sole source of pain.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12061470/

 

Hypnosis Significantly and Reliably Reduces Acute and Chronic Pain

 

Randomized controlled studies indicate that hypnosis reduces acute and chronic pain conditions.  Hypnosis has been shown to reduce analogue pain.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12848218/

 

Hypnosis Reduces Pain in Fibromyalgia

 

This study measured regional cerebral blood flow with PET scans in patients with fibromyalgia during hypnotically-induced analgesia and restful wakefulness.  Patients experienced less pain during hypnosis than at rest.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10700332/

 

Hypnosis Effective In Emergency Room Settings

 

Hypnosis has been shown, in emergency room settings, to be effective in providing analgesia for existing pain, painful procedures, reducing acute anxiety, increasing children’s cooperation for procedures, facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of acute psychiatric conditions, and providing analgesia and anxiolysis for obstetric/gynecologic issues.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24472351/

 

Hypnosis Healed 41% Faster from Fracture

 

Harvard Medical School conducted two studies that showed hypnosis significantly reduces the time it takes to heal.  In an ankle fracture study, those in the hypnosis group showed the equivalent of 8.5 weeks of healing after only 6 weeks.  In the breast reduction surgery, healing was found to be significantly faster in the hypnosis group.

 

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2003/05/hypnosis-helps-healing-2/

 

 

Addiction

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Hypnosis Helps Significantly More Methadone Users Quit; 94% Remain Narcotic Free

 

Seventy adults at a methadone maintenance program volunteered to be randomly assigned to experimental and control groups to receive hypnotherapy or psychotherapy: At the six-month follow-up, the adults who experienced hypnosis had significantly less discomfort and illicit drug use, and a significantly greater number of withdrawals. 94% remained narcotic free.

 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00029157.1984.10402575

 

Hypnosis Shows 77% Success Rate For Substance Abuse

 

Adults being treated for substance abuse using hypnosis showed a 77% success rate at the 1-year follow-up.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15376606/

 

Hypnosis Raises Self-Esteem; Lowers Impulsivity and Anger

 

261 veterans admitted to SSRTPs for substance abuse showed the highest levels of self-esteem and serenity, and the least anger and impulsivity, compared to control groups.

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8516056_Self-Hypnosis_Relapse_Prevention_Training_with_Chronic_DrugAlcohol_Users_Effects_on_Self-Esteem_Affect_and_Relapse

 

Hypnosis Successful As Only Intervention for Cocaine Use

 

A female subject in her twenties experienced 8 months of addiction to five grams of cocaine per day.  After using hypnosis, her addiction was broken and she has been drug-free going on 9 years.  Hypnosis was the only intervention used, and there was no support network available.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8259763/

 

 

Fertility

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Hypnosis Significantly Improves IVF/ET Outcome

 

Ninety-eight IVF/ET cycles used hypnosis, while ninety-six did not.  Of the hypnosis group, 52 clinical pregnancies were obtained; of the control group, 29 were obtained – suggesting hypnosis may significantly improve the outcome of increased implantation and clinical pregnancy rates.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16566936/