Does hypnotherapy work?

Sit back and relax. Close your eyes. Imagine you're sitting on a calm beach. Now, do you feel more open to suggestion?

Hypnotherapy has been around for centuries, and you might've heard about it being used for everything from PTSD to addiction and even IBS.

Norman and Tegan guide us through the evidence for using hypnosis in a therapeutic setting, and whether there are any downsides.

References:

• Brain Activity and Functional Connectivity Associated with Hypnosis
• Not everyone can be hypnotized - and researchers are one step closer to understanding why
• Functional Brain Basis of Hypnotizability
• A Systematic Review of Hypnosis for Clinical Pain Relief
• The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials
• Hypnosis as a non-pharmacological intervention for invasive medical procedures - A systematic review and meta-analytic update
• Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS: what is it and what are the options?
• Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Does hypnotherapy help people who are trying to stop smoking? - Cochrane Review
• Effectiveness of hypnosis in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• A Meta-Analysis of Hypnotherapeutic Techniques in the Treatment of PTSD Symptoms
• Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Combat-Related PTSD Patients Suffering From Insomnia: A Randomized, Zolpidem-Controlled Clinical Trial
• Ericksonian hypnotherapy versus cognitive behavioral therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder
• The Prefrontal Cortex and Suggestion: Hypnosis vs. Placebo Effects

If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!

• What's the deal with night terrors?
• Can tapping calm your nervous system?
• Why do we dream?