Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in the Management of Fibromyalgia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objective: A multi-modal approach to fibromyalgia syndrome is necessary as it is affected by emotional, cognitive, and behavioral factors. In this context, hypnosis is one of the treatment methods used in fibromyalgia. However, studies on the use of hypnosis in fibromyalgia have mostly been conducted with short treatment durations of self-hypnosis. For this reason, we aimed to conduct this study in which the hypnosis sessions were face-to-face and the treatment duration was longer. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients who met the fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria published in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2016 and whose medical treatment was planned were included in the study. A total of 20 patients completed the study (10 hypnosis group and 10 control group). No additional treatment was applied to the control group other than medical treatment and exercise recommendations. In addition to medical treatment and exercise, patients in the hypnosis group received face-to-face hypnosis therapy once a week for 60 min, a total of 10 sessions. Evaluations of the patients before the treatment and in the 3rd month after the treatment were made with the pain score and the fibromyalgia disease activity score. Results: Ages 18–65 years, with widespread pain for at least 3 months, according to ACR 2016 fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria; A total of 20 patients with fibromyalgia, 10 in the hypnosis treatment group and 10 in the control treatment group completed the study. When the 3rd month Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) values of the group receiving hypnosis treatment were compared with the control group, a statistical difference was found (P < 0.001). When the pre-treatment VAS and FIQ values of the group receiving hypnosis treatment were compared with the 3rd month values, a statistically significant improvement was found (respectively; P = 0.006, P = 0.005). When the pretreatment and 3rd month VAS and FIQ values of the control group were compared, no statistical difference was found (P = 0.063). Conclusions: Hypnosis treatment is effective in reducing pain and increasing daily life activities in fibromyalgia patients, and no side effects were reported. It can be considered a complementary treatment within the multimodal approach in fibromyalgia patients.