Evaluating Psychological Interventions for Pain, Recovery, and Outcomes in Surgical and Medical Care

TL;DR

This paper reviews how hypnosis can help manage pain and improve recovery in various medical settings, but it is still underused due to misconceptions and lack of training.

Contribution

The paper provides a narrative review highlighting hypnosis's clinical effectiveness and calls for its integration into routine medical practice.

Findings

Hypnosis reduces pain, anxiety, and opioid use in surgical and medical care.

Neuroimaging supports hypnosis's physiological effects on brain activity.

Hypnosis is beneficial for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and cancer-related symptoms.

Abstract

Hypnosis is a recognised technique in pain management and anaesthesia. Historically used by James Esdaile in the 19th century, it remains underutilised in modern clinical settings. This narrative review examines the historical context, mechanisms, and clinical applications of hypnosis, highlighting its effectiveness in general surgery, orthopaedics, urology, obstetrics, oncology, and paediatrics. Evidence shows that hypnosis can reduce perioperative pain, anxiety, and opioid use, while enhancing recovery. Neuroimaging studies reveal altered brain activity during hypnotic states, supporting its physiological basis. Despite these benefits, adoption remains limited due to misconceptions, lack of awareness, and insufficient training among healthcare providers. Cultural attitudes and the absence of standardised protocols also hinder its integration. Hypnosis has demonstrated particular value in chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer-related symptoms, offering a low-risk, cost-effective adjunct to care. This review calls for structured training to integrate hypnosis into routine, patient-centred clinical practice.