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Flashes: Some benefit of hypnosis seen in study
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Published: November 12, 2008
The question: Might hypnosis help quell the hot flashes experienced by many women who have had breast cancer?
This study: It randomly assigned 60 breast-cancer survivors who had an average of eight hot flashes a day to be given weekly hypnosis or to receive no treatment while on a waiting list for hypnosis. Hypnotism sessions of 50 minutes each included suggestions for relaxation and coolness; women also were encouraged to use imagery and positive suggestions during self-hypnosis at home. After five weeks, based on a standardized scale incorporating severity and frequency of hot flashes, scores dropped by an average of 68 percent among women who had been hypnotized, whereas the others experienced little or no change in hot flashes. The hypnosis group also reported less anxiety, better sleep and improved ability to function day to day, compared with the others.
Who may be affected? Women who have had breast cancer. Nearly three-fourths of breast-cancer survivors experience hot flashes, especially those who have had chemotherapy or taken tamoxifen.
Caveats: Some of the treatment effect may have been attributable to an expectation of success among women given hypnosis or to the added attention they received, compared with the no-treatment group. Data were based on the participants' recording and evaluation of their hot flashes. Not all women are good candidates for hypnosis. Whether hypnosis would benefit women who have not had breast cancer but who experience hot flashes as they enter menopause was not tested.
Find this study: Sept. 22 online issue http://www.jco.org of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Learn more: www.breastcancer.org/treatment (click on "treatmentside effects"). Learn about breast cancer at www.cancer.gov.
The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.
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