Conclusions Due to exploratory design s and high risk of bias , the effectiveness of hypnosis or hypnotherapy in stress reduction remains still unclear .
Background Although hypnosis and hypnotherapy have become more popular in recent years , the evidence for hypnosis to influence perceived stress is unclear .
In this systematic review we search ed and evaluated r and omized clinical studies investigating the effect of hypnosis on perceived stress reduction and coping .
Psychological approaches during conscious sedation. Hypnosis versus stress reducing strategies: a prospective randomized study
& NA ; Stress reducing strategies are useful in patients undergoing surgery .  Hypnosis is also known to alleviate acute and chronic pain . We therefore compared the effectiveness of these two psychological approaches for reducing perioperative discomfort during conscious sedation for plastic surgery . Sixty patients scheduled for elective plastic surgery under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation ( midazolam and alfentanil upon request ) were included in the study after providing informed consent . They were r and omly allocated to either stress reducing strategies ( control : CONT ) or hypnosis ( HYP ) during the entire surgical procedure . Both techniques were performed by the same anesthesiologist ( MEF ) . Patient behavior was noted during surgery by a psychologist , the patient noted anxiety , pain , perceived control before , during and after surgery , and postoperative nausea and vomiting ( PONV ) . Patient satisfaction and surgical conditions were also recorded . Peri‐ and postoperative anxiety and pain were significantly lower in the HYP group . This reduction in anxiety and pain were achieved despite a significant reduction in intraoperative requirements for midazolam and alfentanil in the HYP group ( alfentanil : 8.7±0.9 & mgr;g kg−1/h−1 vs. 19.4±2 & mgr;g kg−1/h−1 , P<0.001 ; midazolam : 0.04±0.003 mg kg−1/h−1 vs. 0.09±0.01 mg kg−1/h−1 , P<0.001 ) . Patients in the HYP group reported an impression of more intraoperative control than those in the CONT group ( P<0.01 ) . PONV were significantly reduced in the HYP group ( 6.5 % vs. 30.8 % , P<0.001 ) . Surgical conditions were better in the HYP group . Less signs of patient discomfort and pain were observed by the psychologist in the HYP group ( P<0.001 ) . Vital signs were significantly more stable in the HYP group . Patient satisfaction score was significantly higher in the HYP group ( P<0.004 ) . This study suggests that hypnosis provides better perioperative pain and anxiety relief , allows for significant reductions in alfentanil and midazolam requirements , and improves patient satisfaction and surgical conditions as compared with conventional stress reducing strategies support in patients receiving conscious sedation for plastic surgery
Conclusions Due to exploratory design s and high risk of bias , the effectiveness of hypnosis or hypnotherapy in stress reduction remains still unclear .
Background Although hypnosis and hypnotherapy have become more popular in recent years , the evidence for hypnosis to influence perceived stress is unclear .
In this systematic review we search ed and evaluated r and omized clinical studies investigating the effect of hypnosis on perceived stress reduction and coping .