A Study Regarding Using Hypnosis for Breast Biopsies

A new study has found out what we as hypnotherapists have known. Hypnosis, can help reduce a woman's pain and anxiety during breast biopsy.

Dr. Elvira V. Lang, associate professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School, was involved in a study regarding the use of hypnosis for breast biopsies. She is quoted as having said "The findings show that nonpharmacologic means can be very powerful -- without side effects,"

The study included 236 women treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who were randomly assigned three types of care while undergoing outpatient large-core needle biopsy. Here is how the subjects were divided: Seventy-six of the women received standard care; 82 received structured "empathetic attention" from a person specifically assigned to be responsive to the women's needs; and 78 of the women induced self-hypnotic relaxation under instruction from a trained research assistant.

The women in the hypnosis group were instructed to roll their eyes upward, close their eyes, breathe deeply, focus on a sensation of floating, and imagine a pleasant setting. Before the start of their biopsies, all the women had heightened anxiety levels. During the procedure, anxiety increased significantly in the standard care group, did not change in the empathy group, and decreased significantly in the hypnosis group.

All three groups reported pain during the procedure, but the women in the empathy and hypnosis groups reported less pain than those in the standard care group. The researchers also found that the hypnosis group had the shortest procedure times and lowest cost.

It was felt that because of these results... prior assumptions about mind-body interventions where changed and it was realized that self-hypnotic relaxation can be learned very quickly right on the procedure table without additional cost, challenging the notion that extensive office visits or preparation are necessary.

Having used self-hypnosis myself for a recent breast surgery, I can tell you that it absolutely helps to diminish the pre-operative anxiety level. I also utilized self-hypnosis during the procedure itself which was done with local anesthesia only. Previously, I had utilized self-hypnosis during the repair of a ventral and umbilical hernia under local anesthesia. The doctor was surprised at how quiet I was. He kept on stopping every once in awhile to ask me if I was okay. I was in my "Safe Place" which, is a common hypnotic technique used.

Please feel free to contact me regarding personlized hypnosis CD's for your upcoming surgeries. It really works!! My web site is www.hypnotherapyforhealth.com

Copyright (c) 2007 Seth-Deborah Roth

Seth-Deborah is Certified Instructor and faculty member of the National Guild of Hypnosis. She is also a member of the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists, the International Hypnosis Federation, the American Board of Hypnosis and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. www.hypnotichealth.blogspot.com

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