Improvement in bronchial hyper-responsiveness in patients with moderate asthma after treatment with a hypnotic technique: a randomised controlled trial.

Abstract

A prospective, randomised, single blind, and controlled trial of a hypnotic technique was undertaken in 39 adults with mild to moderate asthma graded for low and high susceptibility to hypnosis. After a six week course of hypnotherapy 12 patients with a high susceptibility score showed a 74.9% improvement (p less than 0.01) in the degree of bronchial hyper-responsiveness to a standardised methacholine challenge test. Daily home recordings of symptoms improved by 41% (p less than 0.01), peak expiratory flow rates improved by 5.5% (p less than 0.01), and use of bronchodilators decreased by 26.2% (p less than 0.05). The improvement in bronchial hyper-reactivity occurred without a change in subjective appreciation of the degree of bronchoconstriction. A control group 17 patients and 10 patients undergoing treatment with low susceptibility to hypnosis had no change in either bronchial hyper-responsiveness or any of the symptoms recorded at home. This study shows the efficacy of a hypnotic technique in adult asthmatics who are moderately to highly susceptible to hypnosis.

• Authors: T C Ewer, D E Stewart
• Journal: British medical journal (Clinical research ed.) (Br Med J (Clin Res Ed)) Vol. 293 Issue 6555 Pg. 1129-32 (Nov 01 1986) ISSN: 0267-0623 [Print] England
• PMID: 3094804 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Asthma (physiopathology, psychology, therapy)
• Bronchi (physiopathology)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Humans
• Hypnosis
• Prospective Studies
• Random Allocation