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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
