Ericksonian Hypnosis Reduces Tender Points in People with Fibromyalgia
Monday, 11 May 2009
Researchers from the Unidad de Investigació Médica in Merida, Mexico, explored the efficacy of Ericksonian Hypnosis for managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Forty-three female fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned to receive either six months of Ericksonian hypnosis (n = 20) or a sham-hypnosis protocol (n = 23). Each month, measures were taken using the Patient and Physician Global Disease Assessment, a count of tender points, and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ).
During the follow-up, no inter-group differences were found on the Patient and Physician Global Disease Assessment nor the FIQ scores. But at the third month and at the fourth month of follow-up, the participants who were in the group receiving Ericksonian hypnosis had a significant reduction in the tender point count.
The study concludes that even though there was no apparent effect on functional status nor on the patient and physician global assessment, hypnosis produced a significant reduction in the number of tender points, resulting in a suggestion that Ericsonian hypnosis be considered as an adjuvant treatment for the management of fibromyalgia. [Article in Spanish]
Citation: Alvarez-Nemegyei J, Negreros-Castillo A, Nuño-Gutiérrez BL, Alvarez-Berzunza J, Alcocer-Martínez LM. Ericksonian hypnosis in women with fibromyalgia syndrome. Revista Medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. 2007 Jul-Aug; 45 (4): pages 395-401.
