Table 1.
Characteristics of the included systematic reviews.
| Review | No. of included studies (participants) | Date of last search | Type of included studies | Population (age; % female) | Intervention | Comparison condition | Reported outcomes with k ≥ 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical procedures | |||||||
| Holler et al. (2021) | 50 (4,269) | January 2021 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (mean age: 51 yrs; 66%) | Hypnosis as an adjunct to surgical standard care, implemented pre-, intra- and/or postoperatively, provided face-to-face or as a pre-recorded tape/CD; Intervention time: 15–60 min | (1) TAU (2) AC |
Mental distress; Pain Medication consumption Recovery; Physiological parameters; Procedure time |
| Tefikow et al. (2013) | 34 (2,597) | September 2011 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (mean age: 40 yrs; 60%) | Hypnosis as an adjunct to surgical standard care, implemented pre-, intra- and/or postoperatively, provided face-to-face or as a pre-recorded tape/CD; Intervention time: 3–240 min | (1) TAU (2) AC |
Emotional distress; Pain Medication consumption Recovery; Physiological parameters; Procedure time |
| Kekecs et al. (2014) | 13 (1,028) | February 2014 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (NR) | Use of hypnosis and therapeutic suggestions to alleviate surgical side effects, implemented pre-, during- and after-surgery, live and recorded | (1) TAU (2) AC |
Anxiety; Pain intensity Pain medication Nausea |
| Schnur et al. (2008) | 19 (1,723) | February 2008 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Children and adults (NR) | Hypnosis for reducing emotional stress during procedure, implemented pre-, during- and after-surgery, only live | (1) TAU (2) AC |
Mental distress |
| Noergaard et al. (2019) | 7 (1,231) | July 2018 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (18–94 yrs; 71%) | Hypnotic analgesia in the management of procedural pain in minimally invasive procedures, implemented pre- and during the procedure, face-to-face and via recording; Intervention time: 16–195 min | (1) TAU + intravenous analgesia (2) TAU (without pain medication) |
Length of procedure Adverse events |
| Zeng et al. (2022) | 8 (1,242) | January 2022 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (18–92 yrs; 100%) | Hypnosis before general anesthesia on patients undergoing minor surgery for breast cancer and self-hypnotic relaxation exercise; Intervention time: 2–20 min | TAU | Postoperative pain Postoperative anxiety Procedure time Postoperative nausea and vomiting |
| Burghardt et al. (2018) | 5 (255) | August 2017 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Listening to recorded hypnosis during procedure (partly with relaxation music, suggestions for bleeding and edema control) Intervention time: 20–66 min |
(1) TAU (2) AC |
Mental distress |
| Uman et al. (2006) | 5 (196) | February 2005 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Children and adolescents (3–16 yrs; NR) | Training in hypnosis and self-hypnosis; Hypnotic suggestion using the child’s favourite story; Visual imagery and analgesic suggestions, relaxation techniques | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) Non-directed play |
Self-reported pain Self-reported distress Behavioral measures of distress |
| Uman et al. (2013)-update of Uman et al. (2006) | 7 (255) | March 2013 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Children and adolescents (3–16 yrs; NR) | Training in hypnosis and self-hypnosis; Hypnotic suggestion using the child’s favourite story; Visual imagery and analgesic suggestions, relaxation techniques; Ericksonian hypnosis via hypnotherapist | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) Non-directed play |
Self-reported pain Self-reported distress Behavioral measures of distress |
| Birnie et al. (2018)-update of Uman et al. (2013) | 8 (295) | September 2017 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Children and adolescents (3–16 yrs; 60%) | Training in hypnosis and self-hypnosis; Hypnotic suggestion using the child’s favourite story; Visual imagery and analgesic suggestions, relaxation techniques; Ericksonian hypnosis via hypnotherapist; Hypnosis intervention via headphones | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) Non-directed play (4) Noise-cancelling headphones |
Self-reported pain Self-reported distress Behavioral measures of distress |
| Provençal et al. (2018) | 6 (234) | August 2014 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (16–65 yrs; NR) | Hypnosis via Barber’s rapid induced analgesia modified for wound debridement, with posthypnotic cues for comfort; Muscle relaxation and pleasant memory; Intervention time: 15–25 min | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) No treatment |
Pain |
| Scheffler et al. (2018) | 6 (213) | May 2016 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Hypnosis via Barber’s rapid induced analgesia modified for wound debridement, with posthypnotic cues for comfort and relaxation | (1) TAU (2) AC |
Pain |
| Labor and childbirth | |||||||
| Madden et al. (2012) | 7 (1,213) | January 2012 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR; 100%) | Antenatal hypnosis training in groups/individual; Hypnosis during labor; + audio-recording for home practice Intervention time: 20 min |
(1) TAU (2) AC |
Use of pharmacological pain relief/anesthesia Spontaneous vaginal birth; Assisted vaginal birth; Ceasarean section Use of epidural/neuroaxial block |
| Madden et al. (2016)-update of Madden et al. (2012) | 9 (1,741) | September 2015 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR; 100%) | Antenatal hypnosis training in groups/individual; Hypnosis during labor; + audio-recording for home-practice Intervention time: 20–90 min |
(1) TAU (2) AC |
Use of pharmacological pain relief/anesthesia Spontaneous vaginal birth; Assisted vaginal birth; Ceasarean section Use of epidural/neuroaxial block Induction of labor Augmentation of labor |
| Cyna et al. (2004) | 3 (142) | March 2004 | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | Adults (NR; 100%) | Individual hypnosis (standard script used in labor, including relaxation and focused attention) | (1) TAU (2) Placebo (3) Active control |
Use of pharmacological pain relief |
| Smith et al. (2003) | 3 (167) | July 2002 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adolescents and adults (18 or younger-35 yrs; 100%) | Individual hypnosis with guided imagery; Self-hypnosis in groups Intervention time: 60 min |
(1) TAU (2) Active control |
Use of pharmacological pain relief |
| Smith et al. (2006)-update of Smith et al. (2003) | 5 (727) | February 2006 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adolescents and adults (18 or younger-35 yrs.; 100%) | Individual hypnosis with guided imagery; Self-hypnosis in groups Intervention time: 60 min |
(1) TAU (2) Active control |
Use of pharmacological analgesia; Spontaneous vaginal birth; Augmentation with oxytocin |
| Pain | |||||||
| Langlois et al. (2022) | 9 (530) | May 2021 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (34–81 yrs; NR) | Hypnosis via hypnotherapist, afterwards self-hypnosis via audiotape; Intervention time: 30–90 min | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) No treatment (4) Active control |
Pain intensity post-treatment/follow-up Pain interference with daily activities |
| Garland et al. (2020) | 12 (932) | March 2018 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Hypnosis partly in person, partly via recording | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) Active control |
Pain |
| Milling et al. (2021) | 32 (1,409) | April 2019 | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | NR | Not specified | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) Waitlist (4) No treatment |
Pain |
| Zech et al. (2017) | 3 (134) | February 2016 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Traditional and Ericksonian hypnosis, partly combined with CBT Intervention time: 60–120 min |
(1) TAU (2) AC (3) Waitlist (4) Active control |
Sleep problems |
| Cancer | |||||||
| Richardson et al. (2007) | 4 (149) | March 2005 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Children, adolescents and adults (5–49 yrs; NR) | Individual hypnosis with instructions for self-hypnosis; Individualized imaginative fantasy with suggestions; Relaxation, imagery and tailored hypnosis with suggestions + instruction for home practice Intervention time: 30–90 min |
(1) TAU (2) Therapist contact |
Nausea and vomiting |
| Danon et al. (2022) | 3 (130) | May 2020 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (mean age: 55.9 yrs; 96%) | Hypnosis and supportive-expressive therapy + education in groups; Instructions for self-hypnosis + pharmacological treatment Intervention time: 60–90 min Valencia model of waking hypnosis with CBT |
(1) TAU (2) Waitlist (3) No treatment (4) Active control |
Pain |
| Jong et al. (2020) | 4 (206) | March 2016 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Children and adolescents (3–16 yrs; NR) | Hypnotic induction, active imagery, tailored, deep muscle relaxation, and analgesic suggestions, directed by therapist + self-hypnosis training | (1) TAU (2) AC |
Self-reported pain |
| Nunns et al. (2018) | 6 (287) | July 2017 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Children, adolescents and adults (NR) | Hypnosis + CBT; Direct and indirect suggestions; Imaginative involvement; Intervention time: 15–40 min | (1) TAU (2) AC |
Anxiety Pain |
| Chen et al. (2017) | 13 (321) | May 2015 | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | Children, adolescents and adults (5–87 yrs; NR) | Individual hypnosis with therapist, additional instructions for self-hypnosis with audiotape Intervention time: 20–50 min |
(1) TAU (2) AC (3) Active control |
Anxiety |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | |||||||
| Ford et al. (2019) | 5 (278) | December 2013 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Gut-directed hypnotherapy, partly with audiotapes; Intervention time: 30–60 min | (1) TAU (2) Symptom monitoring (3) Supportive therapy (4) Placebo |
Response to therapy (global IBS symptoms or abdominal pain) |
| Black et al. (2020)-update of Ford et al. (2019) | 6 (739) | January 2020 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Gut-directed hypnotherapy (individual vs. in groups); Intervention time: 30–60 min | Waitlist | IBS symptoms |
| Krouwel et al. (2021) | 7 (723) | April 2020 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (18–65 yrs; 63.3–86.3%) | Gut-directed hypnotherapy, individual and in groups; Integrative therapy (including psychodynamics, GDH and education); Intervention time: 45–90 min | (1) TAU (2) Placebo (3) No treatment (4) Alternative treatment |
IBS symptoms |
| Lee et al. (2014) | 7 (374) | January 2013 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (18–70 yrs; 80%) | Gut-directed hypnotherapy Intervention time: 30–60 min |
(1) Any other conventional treatment (2) No treatment |
Abdominal pain |
| Schaefert et al. (2014) | 8 (464) | June 2013 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (NR) | Manchester approach Gut-directed hypnotherapy (Partly individual and in groups) Intervention time: 30–60 min |
(1) TAU (2) AC (3) Waitlist (4) No treatment (5) Active control |
Adequate symptom relief; Global gastrointestinal score; Pain; Diarrhea; constipation; Bloating/distension; Health-related quality of life; Depression; Anxiety |
| Henrich et al. (2015) | 5 (255) | May 2013 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Gut-directed hypnotherapy Intervention time: 30–60 min |
(1) TAU (2) Waitlist (3) Symptom monitoring |
Pain; Composite symptoms; Bowel dysfunction; Psychological distress Health-related quality of life |
| Laird et al. (2016) | 5 (253) | August 2015 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Hypnotherapy, individual and in groups | Active and non-active controls | Gastrointestinal symptoms |
| Laird et al. (2017) | 4 (223) | August 2015 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Hypnotherapy, individual and in groups | (1) TAU (2) Waitlist (3) Active control |
Daily functioning |
| Peng et al. (2021) | 11 (509) | September 2020 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | Individual gut-directed hypnotherapy; GDH + supportive talks; General hypnotherapy; Group hypnotherapy | Supportive treatments | Various outcomes |
| Shah et al. (2020) | 6 (NA) | NR | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (NR) | NA | (1) TAU (2) Waitlist (3) Active control |
Gastrointestinal symptoms |
| Obesity | |||||||
| Milling et al. (2018) | (A) 14 (882) (B) 11 (573) |
December 2016 | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | Adolescents and adults (NR) | Hypnosis + training in self-hypnosis; Hypnosis alone; Hypnosis + CBT | (1) TAU (2) AC (3) No treatment (4) Hypnosis + CBT vs. CBT |
Weight loss at post treatment and at follow-up |
| Smoking cessation | |||||||
| Barnes et al. (2010) | 11 (1,221) | July 2010 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (30–40 yrs; NR) | Hypnosis alone (individual or in groups); Hypnosis + audiotape for home-practice; Intervention time: 30–150 min | (1) Brief attention/cessation advice (2) Psychological treatment |
Smoking cessation at 6+ months follow-up |
| Barnes et al. (2019)-update of Barnes et al. (2010) | 14 (1,926) | July 2018 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (30–40 yrs; NR) | Hypnosis alone (individual or in groups); Hypnosis + audiotape for home-practice; Intervention time: 30–150 min | Attention-matched behavioural treatments | Smoking cessation at 6+ months follow-up |
| Tahiri et al. (2012) | 4 (273) | December 2010 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (mean age 35.6–42.7 yrs; 48.7–70%) | Hypnosis by hypnotherapist, family physician or psychologist; Intervention time: 40–150 min | Waitlist | Abstinence |
| Hartmann-Boyce et al. (2021) | 14 (1,926) | July 2020 | RCTs on different interventions including hypnosis | Adults (30–40 yrs; NR) | Hypnosis alone (individual or in groups); Hypnosis + audiotape for home-practice; Intervention time: 30–150 min | (1) No smoking cessation support (2) Waitlist (3) AC |
Smoking cessation at 6+ months follow-up |
| Symptoms of mental/psychosomatic disorders | |||||||
| Shih et al. (2009) | 6 (258) | NR | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (18–81 yrs; 67.5%) | Hypnosis alone (individual or in groups); Hypnosis + audiotape for home-practice; Intervention time: 30–60 min | (1) TAU (2) No treatment |
Depressive symptoms |
| O’Toole et al. (2016) | 3 (94) | NR | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | Adolescents and adults (NR; 0–79%) | Hypnotherapy and “spiritual hypnosis-assisted therapy” | (1) No treatment (2) Waitlist (3) Pharmacotherapy |
PTSD symptom reduction |
| Rotaru and Rusu (2016) | 4 (144) | January 2014 | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | Children, adolescents and adults (9.38–42 yrs; 0–88%) | Symptom-orientated hypnotherapy; Manualized abreactive ego therapy Intervention time: 90 min |
(1) No treatment (2) Waitlist (3) Pharmacotherapy (4) Placebo |
PTSD symptom reduction at post-treatment and at 4 weeks follow-up |
| Flammer and Alladin (2007) | 21 (843) | NR | RCTs on hypnosis only | Children, adolescents and adults (NR) | Classical hypnosis; Modern hypnosis; Mixed form of hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis | (1) Waitlist (2) No treatment |
Pooled across all reported outcomes |
| Lam et al. (2015) | 3 (75) | March 2014 | RCTs on hypnosis only | Adults (mean age: 45.2 yrs; 52.8%) | Hypnosis (face-to-face; Delivered via internet); Intervention time: 20–90 min | (1) Placebo (2) Waitlist |
Sleep onset latency |
| Various disorders | |||||||
| Ramondo et al. (2021) | 39 (1,500) | November 2018 | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | Children, adolescents and adults (NR) | Hypnosis + CBT | CBT alone | Primary study outcome at post-treatment and at follow-up |
| Flammer and Bongartz (2003) | 57 (2,411) | 2002 | Studies on hypnosis including RCTs | Children, adolescents and adults (NR) | Classical hypnosis (direct suggestions for relaxation, imagination and for alleviation of symptoms); Modern hypnosis (indirect suggestions for relaxation, imagination or for symptom reduction, application of metaphors, symbolizations) | Waitlist | Various outcomes |
| Eason and Parris (2019) | 17 (4,176) | NR | RCTs on hypnosis only | Children, adolescents and adults (NR) | Hypnosis alone (individual or in groups); Hypnosis + audiotape for home-practice; Intervention time: 50–90 min | (1) TAU (2) Waitlist (3) Other treatment |
Various outcomes |
AC, attention control; CBT, cognitive-behavioral therapy; GDH, gut-directed hypnotherapy; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; NR, not reported; RCT, randomized controlled trial; TAU, treatment as usual; yrs, years.