Hypnosis Research Articles
Below are some helpful insights into the effectiveness of hypnosis
1. Hypnosis lessens fears and phobias A 2024 meta-analytic review by Rosendahl et al. synthesized multiple prior reviews on hypnosis for mental and psychosomatic disorders. It found medium to large effect sizes (Cohen’s d ranging from 0.06 to 1.58, with most significant and in the medium-to-large range) for reducing symptoms of anxiety and related conditions, supporting hypnosis as an effective adjunct or standalone approach for alleviating fears and phobic responses.
2. Hypnosis lessens public speaking anxiety In a 2024 quasi-experimental single-subject study (A-B design) by Mahbuba Khalifa Saleh, three girls with high levels of social phobia and public speaking fear received hypnosis sessions. Pre- and post-intervention assessments using the LSASI scale showed clear reductions in public speaking fear, demonstrating hypnosis as an effective targeted strategy for this specific anxiety.
3. Hypnosis improves sports performance A 2024 randomized controlled trial by Nieft, Schlütz, and Schmidt tested a single 40-minute hypnosis session with post-hypnotic suggestions to “feel strong,” paired with a power anchor (visual cue). In the hypnosis group (vs. control), subjective strength increased immediately and long-term (large effects, d up to 1.39), while objective handgrip strength rose significantly after anchor activation (mean +2.9 kg, d=1.0, p<0.001), with effects lasting at least one week—offering practical benefits for athletic performance and rehabilitation.
4. Hypnosis helps with habit control A 2025 systematic review by Ekanayake et al. analyzed 63 studies on hypnotherapy for smoking cessation (a core example of habit control). Two-thirds (66.7%) of the studies reported a positive impact, with stronger outcomes linked to longer treatment duration, more sessions, and use of both self-report and objective measures of abstinence. The review concludes hypnotherapy is a useful, evidence-supported approach for breaking ingrained habits like smoking.
5. Hypnosis improves sleep A 2023 systematic review by Wofford et al. examined 44 studies on hypnotherapy for sleep disturbances. Overall, 47.7% showed positive results; in the subset of 11 studies that specifically targeted sleep disturbance with sleep-focused suggestions, results were even stronger (54.5% positive). The authors describe hypnotherapy as a promising, low-side-effect intervention for improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms.
