Hypnosis For cancer

Hypnosis in Medicine: The Hospital Pharmacists' Reporter

Uses of hypnosis for Arthritis:

Stress and pain management are two other reasons for calling on a hypnotherapist. As Dr. Joseph Barber of the University of California recently stated in a publication of the Arthritis Foundation, "Among psychological approaches to the management of pain, hypnosis is the most effective technique...often the only effective remedy." He specifically notes its value in arthritis and cancer patients. In the same article, Dr. Herbert Spiegel, former Columbia University Professor of Psychiatry and a leading hypnotherapist, says he's found it particularly valuable for arthritic patients because it not only controls pain but relaxes the patient. As Dr. D. Spiegel has phrased it, "...the trance state can be used most effectively by teaching patients to use their own hypnotic capacity rather than rely on the doctor."

Uses for Cancer Patients:

Hypnosis is also being widely used with cancer patients for pain management. As Atlanta psychiatrist Kathryn Sands, MD, phrased it, "Hypnosis is so clearly valuable in chronic pain patients who can use it that any doctor who dismisses it is not using all the tools he can. How can it be used with such patients is illustrated by Marilyn Hockenberry-Eaton, MSN, PNP, an assistant professor in the graduate pediatric oncology program at Emory University. She has been using hypnosis with patients since 1982. Ms. Hockenberry-Eaton's current work is with children with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. She is operating under a grant from the Oncology Nursing Society and Smith Kline & French - to investigate the use of guided imagery and muscle relaxation for children receiving chemotherapy."It gives them a way to cope and it changes perception - particularly of pain," Ms. Hockenberry-Eaton said. She uses it to control nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, and also to cope with invasive procedures, such a bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures.

Relaxation: its effect on the nutritional status and performance status of clients with cancer.

Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1984;84(2):201-4

Relaxation was used to promote normal food consumption patterns among persons with cancer. As part of a larger study, 22 persons with cancer were randomly assigned to receive instruction and reinforcement in a relaxation technique to be used preprandially. The relaxation procedure included four components: (a) deep abdominal breathing, (b) tensing and relaxing of various body parts, (c) relaxation by autosuggestion, and (d) voluntary image control. Twelve clients complied with relaxation instructions in part, and 10 did not. Among compliers, 75% experienced desirable weight change over a six-week period. Performance status, measured by the Karnofsky scale, improved for 33% and worsened for 17% over eight weeks. Research has shown relaxation to be an effective measure in relation to pain, hypertension, and other conditions. These preliminary results now suggest that relaxation may also be effective in treating the eating problems of the person with cancer, leading to improvement in weight and performance status

Preoperative hypnosis reduces postoperative vomiting after surgery of the breasts.

A prospective, randomized and blinded study. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 1997;41(8):1028-32

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after general anesthesia and surgery may have an incidence as high as 70% irrespective of antiemetic drug therapy. The use of preoperative hypnosis and mental preparation by means of an audio tape was investigated in the prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting before elective breast reduction surgery. Similar interventions have not been found in the literature.

METHODS: Fifty women were randomized to a control group or a hypnosis group; the latter listened to an audio tape daily 4-6 days prior to surgery. A hypnotic induction was followed by suggestions as to how to relax and experience states incompatible with nausea and vomiting postoperatively (e.g. thirst and hunger). There was a training part on the tape where the patients were asked to rehearse their own model for stress reduction. Premedication and anesthetic procedures were standardized.

RESULTS: Patients in the hypnosis group had significantly less vomiting, 39% compared to 68% in the control group, less nausea and less need of analgesics postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative relaxation and/or hypnotic techniques in breast surgery contribute to a reduction of both PONV and postoperative analgesic requirements. Enqvist B. Fischer K.

Evaluation of a child's perceived self-competence during treatment for cancer.

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing 1989;6(3):55-62 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of self-hypnosis on the perceived self-competence of children undergoing treatment for cancer and to determine longitudinal differences in perception of self-competence over time. Twenty-two children were randomized into an experimental group (taught self-hypnosis) and a control group (given standard care). Data were collected using the Harter Perceived Self-Competence Profile (HPSCP) during four courses of chemotherapy. A decrease in mean scores for the control group was found compared with the hypnosis group, which showed an increase in mean scores in five of six domains. Both groups showed a statistically significant increase in the scholastic cognitive domain and social acceptance domain from the time of diagnosis compared with the second test period. Ten children had a visible physical disability. These children were found to have significant decreases in the domains of athletic competence, social acceptance, and global self-worth. Decreases remained significant throughout all test periods in the athletic competence domain for the children with a visible physical disability. This study is unique in that the researchers evaluated children's perception of self-competence over time. These findings support previous studies and identify the need for nurses to become actively involved in helping children develop effective coping skills during chemotherapy for cancer.

Hypnosis in the prevention of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in children: A prospective study.

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 1994;15(4):258-64 To study the effectiveness of hypnosis for decreasing antiemetic medication usage and treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in children with cancer, we conducted a prospective, randomized, and controlled single-blind trial in 20 patients receiving chemotherapy for treatment of cancer. Patients were randomized to either hypnosis or standard treatment. The hypnosis group used hypnosis as primary treatment for nausea and vomiting, using antiemetic medication on a supplemental (p.r.n.) basis only, whereas the control group received a standardized antiemetic medication regimen. Nausea, vomiting, and p.r.n. antiemetic medication usage were measured during the first two courses of chemotherapy. Anticipatory nausea and vomiting were assessed at 1 to 2 and 4 to 6 months post-diagnosis. Patients in the hypnosis group used less p.r.n antiemetic medication than control subjects during both the first (p < .04) and second course of chemotherapy (p < .02). The two groups did not differ in severity of nausea and vomiting. The hypnosis group experienced less anticipatory nausea than the control group at 1 to 2 months post-diagnosis (p < .02). Results suggest self-hypnosis is effective for decreasing antiemetic medication usage and for reducing anticipatory nausea during chemotherapy.

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