Ebell, H. (2008). The therapist as a travelling companion to the chronically ill: Hypnosis and cancer related symptoms. Contemporary Hypnosis, 25, 46–56.

DOI Link

Study Purpose

To examine the effects of the combination of self-hypnosis and pharmacologic pain management

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

Patients with cancer-related pain were randomly assigned to the order in which they received two different approaches—self-hypnosis with pain medications and pain medications alone. Patients used a daily log to record pain levels and the use of analgesics.

Sample Characteristics

  • N = 39
  • AGE: No information reported
  • MALES, FEMALES: No information reported
  • KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Not provided

Setting

  • SITE: Single site
  • SETTING TYPE: Outpatient setting
  • LOCATION: United Kingdom

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

  • PHASE OF CARE: Long-term follow-up, end-of-life and palliative care

Study Design

  • Single group crossover design
    • Randomized

Measurement Instruments/Methods

  • Visual analog scale
  • Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale for Adults (for response or non-response to self-hypnosis)

Results

Eleven patients reported achieving pain control; 12 reported benefits in relaxation, rest, and sleep; and 9 reported no impact.

Conclusions

The study report lacks full quantitative findings and, thus, very limited information about the efficacy of hypnosis.

Limitations

  • Small sample of less than 100
  • No analysis of the differences between hypnosis and \"control” condition
  • Those who added self-hypnosis first in the crossover sequence were likely to have contaminated results that occurred later in the control condition.
  • No disease-related or other demographic information about the sample is provided. 
  • Very limited reporting of results and analysis of findings

Nursing Implications

This study provides little information and no clear support for the efficacy of hypnosis for chronic cancer-related pain.