Efficacy of Hypnotherapy on Psychosomatic Disorders: A Scoping Review

Introduction

Psychosomatic diseases are frequently caused by emotional and psychological factors that contribute significantly to the development of symptoms such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, fibromyalgia, and tension headaches.⁴ Conventional treatments for psychosomatic illnesses include pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, they frequently focus on symptom management rather than addressing underlying psychological factors, which results in high rates of treatment resistance and patient dissatisfaction.⁵ Emerging evidence indicates that hypnotherapy might be a useful supplementary intervention that involves purposefully inducing a hypnotic condition in a patient through verbal guidance.⁶ It may impact autonomic nervous system regulation, pain sensation, and emotional processing, making it a potential therapeutic approach for psychosomatic diseases.⁷

For example, gut-directed hypnotherapy has been shown to alleviate IBS symptoms, with some studies reporting sustained benefits for years after treatment.⁸ However, the evidence is fragmented across disciplines, with different methodologies, groups, and outcome indicators. Previous systematic reviews have concentrated mostly on specific illnesses (e.g. IBS or chronic pain), failing to investigate the larger applications and mechanisms of hypnotherapy across psychosomatic illnesses.

Given the heterogeneous nature of both psychosomatic conditions and hypnotherapy interventions, a scoping review is the most appropriate method to map the existing evidence, identify key concepts, and highlight gaps in research. Unlike a systematic review, which aims to aggregate and assess the efficacy of interventions, a scoping review allows for a broader exploration of how hypnotherapy is being studied, the theoretical frameworks employed, and the range of outcomes reported. This approach is particularly valuable when the field lacks consensus on optimal intervention protocols or when a comprehensive overview is needed to guide future research directions.

Thus, this scoping review aims to:

By synthesizing available evidence in this manner, this review will provide a foundation for understanding the potential role of hypnotherapy in managing psychosomatic conditions while guiding researchers and clinicians toward more targeted investigations.

Method

This scoping review adheres to PRISMA-ScR checklist (Appendix A) and the guidelines of Arksey, O’Malley, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). PRISMA 2020 Flow Diagram for the scoping review titled ‘Efficacy of Hypnotherapy on Psychosomatic Disorders’. The diagram shows the process of study selection. 1250 records were identified from databases and registers. 0 additional records were identified through other sources. After removing 0 duplicates, 1250 records were screened. 1220 records were excluded, leaving 30 reports sought for retrieval. 0 reports were not retrieved, so 30 reports were assessed for eligibility. 0 reports were excluded for specific reasons, resulting in 30 studies included in the review. The criteria for eligibility included primary research that examined the impact of hypnotherapy on psychosomatic illnesses. One reviewer independently screened studies in databases including PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, SID, MDPI, and grey literature from 2019 to 2025. This study comprised studies centered on hypnotherapy for psychosomatic illnesses, such as IBS, fibromyalgia, asthma. A descriptive analytical narrative approach was used to conduct a critical analysis of the included articles. Keywords included hypnotherapy, psychosomatic disorders, IBS, chronic pain, vaginismus and Boolean operators used were: (hypnotherapy AND psychosomatic disorders) OR (hypnotherapy AND IBS).

Inclusion Criteria: RCTs/observational studies on professional hypnotherapy- Adults/children with diagnosed psychosomatic conditions (e.g., IBS, migraines).

Exclusion Criteria: Self-hypnosis or non-clinical interventions- Purely psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). And Data Extraction was based on: 1. Variables: study design, population, intervention, outcomes (e.g., symptom severity, QoL) - 2. Tools: PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). Quality Assessment was based on:1. JBI Critical Appraisal Tools for RCTs and cohort studies - 2. Risk of bias assessed via Cochrane RoB 2.0.⁹

Results

Between 2019 and 2025, 1,250 records were Identified and 30 met inclusion criteria. Thirty articles were published that met the inclusion criteria. Hypnotherapy was most frequently applied to IBS, with gut-directed hypnotherapy being the predominant technique. Key outcomes included a better quality of life and less anxiety. There was little evidence for dermatological or respiratory issues. The keywords used for research were: hypnotherapy, and/or, psychosomatic disorders, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Functional Dyspepsia, Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Vaginismus, Migraine, Asthma, Hypertension.

The inclusion criteria were based on: -Studies involving participants diagnosed with psychosomatic disorders (e. g., irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic pain, hypertension, psoriasis, tension headaches, functional gastrointestinal disorders) - Studies evaluating hypnotherapy (defined as guided hypnosis for therapeutic purposes, delivered by trained professionals). - Both standalone hypnotherapy and adjunctive use with other treatments. e.g., CBT, pharmacotherapy were included. Studies published in (2019–2025) Exclusion criteria based on: - Studies on purely psychiatric disorders (e. g., schizophrenia, major depressive disorder without somatic symptoms) - Animal studies or in vitro research. Studies using self-hypnosis without professional guidance. Rationale: Professional hypnotherapy ensures standardized, clinically relevant interventions.

As summarized in Table 1, key studies demonstrate hypnotherapy’s efficacy across diverse psychosomatic conditions, with notable improvements in IBS, chronic pain, and vaginismus.

Here are some of the Key Findings by Condition that were present in the studies based on the inclusion criteria.

Cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy is a window into the mind that allows people to cope more effectively with their psychological stress and mental distress caused by mental abilities. It also offers important clinical information about the patient’s cognitive style and relationship with mental potential (d = 0.65).² Hypnotherapy has been shown to reduce dysmenorrhea even after cessation of intervention,^8,10–12 clinical hypnosis is effective for treating headaches and migraines while being free of side effects and the ongoing cost of widely used pharmacological therapies. It’s also fairly brief and cost-effective.¹¹

According to research on atopic dermatitis and eczema, hypnotherapy reduced itching and lesion severity.¹² Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are successful in treating anxiety and may have a beneficial impact on the heart and cardiovascular system by reducing sympathetic activation and increasing parasympathetic tone, maybe preventing the development of cardiovascular disease associated with sympathetic activation.¹³

According to the statistics presented in articles related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), GFH resulted in substantial improvement in all colonic and noncolonic symptoms (OR = 3.1, p < 0.001).^14–16

Cognitive behavioral hypnosis promotes cognitive restructuring through suggestion in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and facilitates divergent thinking by affecting the components of open mindedness and expansion of awareness. Furthermore, due to the unique thinking they experience while under hypnosis, they are able to understand their thoughts and surrounding events more effectively. Furthermore, this distinctive thinking facilitates insight and reevaluation of underlying beliefs, resulting in improvement in psychosomatic symptoms and, eventually, improvement in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.¹⁷

Hypnosis reduces a wide range of IBS symptoms, whereas medications typically focus on a single symptom, such as pain or bowel function. Furthermore, it frequently alleviates non-colonic symptoms that are unlikely to respond to medicine. In comparison to pharmacological treatments, gut-directed hypnosis has been found to have long-term effects.¹⁸

After the intervention of hypnotherapy for treating asthma, expiratory dyspnea, intercostal retractions, and suprasternal retractions disappeared entirely, and none of the participants exhibited any of these clinical indicators (p < 0.0001).¹⁹

In a study about effectiveness of hypnotherapy for diabetes, the group that received mindfulness and hypnotherapy reported a substantial decrease in perceived stress compared to the group that did not receive treatment.²⁰

In general, cognitive behavioral hypnotherapy has been shown to help children aged 8 to 12 who suffer from anxiety disorders. The results of this research corroborate those of prior research, demonstrating the beneficial effects of cognitive behavioral hypnotherapy on reducing anxiety types. Furthermore, children are more susceptible to hypnosis and enter a hypnotic state more readily than adults. However, as youngsters grow older, become more rational and realistic, their hypnotic skills decrease, thus this therapy method is useful for treating a variety of anxieties and other acquired disorders in children.²¹ Hypnotherapy has had a positive and beneficial effect on the sexual function and arousal of women with dyspareunia, as well as their satisfaction and empowerment, which were apparent in their words and behaviors.²² In a study about efficacy of hypnotherapy vs. CBT for vaginismus, both the hypnotherapy and CBT groups had equally good success rates. However, the hypnotherapy group needed considerably fewer sessions to achieve complete intercourse than the CBT group (p < 0.001). This discovery suggests that hypnotherapy may be a better choice for people who have no reservations about hypnosis and are anticipated to be noncompliant with therapy. It should also be remembered that a shorter duration of therapy will cut expenditures (p < 0.001).²³ Hypnosis, with its capacity to affect mind-body interactions, emerges as a possible therapy option for globus pharyngeus, especially in situations when traditional therapies have failed.²⁴ Hypnosis relaxation and self-management training boost self-confidence while providing an anxiety-free respite from stressful conditions.²⁵ According to a review of systematic reviews of psychological treatments, hypnotherapy and distraction have the greatest evidence of efficacy in lowering pain, including procedural pain and distress.²⁶ Hypnotherapy sessions are designed to alter a person’s thoughts, actions, and responses. This procedure can help with behavior modification, pain management, stress and anxiety reduction, sleep improvement, weight control, self-confidence development, and the treatment of other mental and physical challenges.²⁷ Patients who practice divergent thinking in a hypnotic state can better comprehend their surrounding thoughts and emotions. This unique thinking also promotes insight and the reformulation of basic beliefs.²⁸ Neurophysiologic studies in adults show that hypnotherapy can alleviate pain perception by modulating both the sensory (intensity) and affective (unpleasantness) components of pain, primarily through activating the anterior cingulate cortex.^29,30

In contrast, decreasing pain and suffering can promote healing and avoid biopsychosocial difficulties and their impact on families.^31–33 which indicates that readily hypnotizable individuals improved more in disease control.³⁴

Discussion

The findings of this scoping review demonstrate that hypnotherapy shows considerable promise as an adjunctive treatment for various psychosomatic disorders, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic pain, and stress-related conditions

To our knowledge, there is limited published synthesis of the literature on hypnotherapy for the treatment of psychosomatic illnesses using scoping review methodology. The goal of the planned scoping review is to chart the evidence on hypnotherapy treatments for psychosomatic illnesses and to discover key areas in need of investigation, as well as research gaps that can be addressed in future studies. The outcomes of the assessment will be examined in connection to the planned research questions and objectives.

The reviewed studies consistently reported improvements in both physical symptoms and psychological well-being following hypnotherapy interventions. However, several critical issues warrant further discussion to contextualize these findings and guide future research directions.

Conclusion

The primary purpose of the scoping review is to look at the use of hypnotherapy in the treatment of psychosomatic diseases. The results of the review are expected to educate hypnotherapists, researchers, and health care professionals about existing research and drive future studies. We feel that the study will provide useful background information that may be used in the design and assessment of customized hypnotic techniques for treating psychosomatic illnesses.

Current data suggests that hypnotherapy is helpful for psychosomatic diseases, notably IBS and chronic pain. Future research should focus on standardized protocols and comparative effectiveness trials. The synthesized findings suggest that hypnotherapy is a potential treatment for psychosomatic illnesses, notably IBS, chronic pain, and stress-related problems. It helps to alleviate symptoms while also supporting mental health, contributing to both symptom reduction and psychological wellbeing.

This review synthesizes a growing body of evidence supporting hypnotherapy’s role in psychosomatic care, while underscoring the need for methodological rigor in future studies. By addressing current gaps, researchers can unlock its full potential as a mainstream therapeutic option. Hypnotherapy shows promise as an adjunctive treatment, particularly for IBS and chronic pain. Future research should prioritize protocol standardization and mechanistic studies.

Ethical approval

Not applicable (review study).