Hypnosis for the Management of Anxiety and Dyspnea in COPD: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Crossover Trial

Abstract

Background

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prone to dyspnea, increased respiratory rate and other anxiety-inducing symptoms. Hypnosis constitutes a complementary procedure capable of improving subjective feelings of anxiety.

Objective

Assessing the efficacy of a 15-minute hypnosis intervention for immediate improvement of anxiety in severe COPD patients.

Methods

Twenty-one participants, COPD patients (mean FEV1 < 32.3%), were randomly assigned to two individual sessions in crossover (sham and hypnosis, 24-h washout period, arms: hypnosis-sham [n=11]/sham-hypnosis [n=10]). We tracked pre- and post-intervention anxiety (STAI-6 score) as primary endpoint.

Results

Nineteen (90.5%) participants completed the study. Anxiety diminished significantly after hypnosis (STAI-6 scores −23.8% [SD = 18.4%] hypnosis vs −3.1% [32.8%] sham; χ ²=8, P<0.01, Bayes Factor 5.5). Respiratory rate also decreased after hypnosis. Improvements in SpO2 and Borg exertion scores were registered after both conditions.

Conclusion

A 15-minute hypnosis session improved participants’ anxiety and lowered respiratory rate (as opposed to sham). Improvements in anxiety were correlated with an alleviation in respiratory strain. Results imply that hypnosis can contribute to the improvement of anxiety levels and breathing mechanics in severe COPD patients.

Registration Id

ISRCTN10029862.

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis

Journal ID (publisher-id): copd

Journal ID (pmc): copd

Title: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Publisher: Dove

ISSN (Print): 1176-9106

ISSN (Electronic): 1178-2005

Publication date (Electronic): 22 October 2020

Publication date Collection: 2020

Volume: 15

Pages: 2609-2620

Affiliations

[1 ]Clinical Hypnosis Research Team, Bligny Hospital Center , Briis-sous-Forges, France

[2 ]Watanabe Cognitive Science Laboratory, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering. Waseda University , Tokyo, Japan

[3 ]Pneumology Unit, Bligny Hospital Center , Briis-sous-Forge, France

[4 ]Counselling and Psychological Care Unit, Bligny Hospital Center , Briis-sous-Forge, France

[5 ]Palliative Care Unit, Bligny Hospital Center , Briis-sous-Forge, France

Author notes

Correspondence: Hernán Anlló Clinical Hypnosis Research Team, Bligny Hospital Center , Rue de Bligny, Briis-sous-Forges91640, FranceTel [phone]Fax [phone] Email [e-mail]

Article

Publisher ID: 267019

DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S267019

PMC ID: 7591014

Copyright statement: © 2020 Anlló et al.

License:

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms ( https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).

Page count

Figures: 2, Tables: 7, References: 61, Pages: 12

Funding

Funded by: Bligny Hospital Center (CHB) and the Fondation pour les Soins Palliatifs (FSP);

Award ID: JSPS

Award ID: GRANT NUMBER: 18F18307

This study was funded by the Bligny Hospital Center (CHB) and the Fondation pour les Soins Palliatifs (FSP). HA’s contribution to this work was supported in part by the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS, GRANT NUMBER: 18F18307).

Categories

Subject: Clinical Trial Report