September 19, 2007 – A short hypnosis session before breast cancer surgery would have several benefits for patients. This technique would have the effect of reducing the pain, discomfort, nausea, fatigue and emotional disturbances associated with the procedure.
This is what researchers from the oncology department of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York report, who conducted a clinical trial1 with 200 women who were scheduled to undergo breast surgery. Just before the intervention, patients spent 15 minutes one-on-one with a psychologist either for a hypnosis session or for empathic support (control group).
Compared to those in the control group, the patients in the hypnosis group would have required lower doses of analgesic (lidocaine) and sedative (propofol) during the procedure. They also ensured that they experienced less pain, discomfort, nausea, fatigue and emotional disturbances following the operation.
Savings
The hypnosis sessions would also have saved the hospital nearly $ 800 per patient since women in this group required less care than others after the operation. The researchers took into account the actual costs of the drugs used and the personnel required for each patient in their calculation.
The hypnosis session consisted of guided muscle and psychic relaxation exercises. The psychologist employed techniques of mental imagery and hypnotic suggestion. Participants were also instructed to practice self-hypnosis after surgery to control pain, nausea and fatigue.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to HealthDay News.
1. Montgomery GH, Bovbjerg DH, et al. A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007 Sep 5; 99 (17): 1304-12.
