The efficacy of using hypnosis to reduce anxiety and pain in obstetrics and gynecology patients

• Main Authors: Vidya, Bhagat, Sheila, Menon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: BF Psychology; R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6994/1/FH02-FP-20-39613.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6994/

Hypnosis has a long history as a treatment method to reduce pain during labor. The purpose of this literature review is to scope the evidences on interventions for decreasing patient anxiousness during the perioperative care and in particular for obstetrics and gynecology patients. It was hypothesized that techniques, which reduce anxiety, will have a beneficial impact on pain reduction. The current study seeks also to provide a design to conceptualize the benefits of introducing psych-education and hypnotherapy as an adjunct to perioperative care. This literature review was completed using electronic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and TRIP. The current study analyzed 40 articles from the year 1970 to 2019. The reviewed articles selected identified the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment option for obstetrics and gynecology patients, specifically for pain management in laboring women. The study concluded that the addition of hypnosis showed success in controlling pain among laboring women. The current study identified that when nursing staff are provided with information and or training in hypnosis and self-hypnosis laboring women receive broader treatment options for anxiety and pain management. Routine education programs on hypnosis and self-hypnosis designed to reduce the discomfort and pain of women during labor may also provide benefit. The current study reviewed the benefit of psycho-education and hypnotherapy for pain management offered to obstetrics and gynecology patients when nurses and or patients or both are provided with this information.