Yogyakarta, August 4, 2026 – A research team from the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has found that clinical hypnosis has the potential to serve as an effective complementary intervention in the management of various chronic diseases. The findings were obtained through a scoping review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and have been published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
Chronic diseases, such as fibromyalgia, cancer, obesity, and heart disease, represent global health challenges that require cross-sectoral approaches. In addition to medical treatment, various psychological approaches are increasingly being developed as complementary interventions to help reduce the physical and psychological burden experienced by patients.
The study, conducted by Dr. Martaria Rizky Rinaldi, M.Psi., Psychologist, Prof. E.L.J.M. van Luijtelaar (Gilles), Dr. Nida Ul Hasanat, M.Si., Psychologist, and Prof. Dra. Kwartarini Wahyu Yuniarti, M.Med.Sc., Ph.D., Psychologist, aimed to map the scientific evidence on the use of clinical hypnosis in chronic disease management and identify the effectiveness of various hypnosis approaches and techniques that have been evaluated through RCTs.
Using a scoping review methodology guided by the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the Arksey and O’Malley framework, the research team searched scientific publications in the PubMed and Scopus databases. The search identified 16 randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted in Europe and the United States, with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 169 participants.
The review found that the hypnosis interventions used varied considerably, ranging from relaxation, positive imagery, and self-hypnosis to specific techniques focusing on bodily sensations and combinations with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The modes of delivery and session durations also varied, including individual and group interventions, as well as single sessions and interventions involving up to 14 sessions.
Overall, the studies reported several positive outcomes, including pain reduction, improved sleep quality and emotional regulation, reduced distress and fatigue, and support for behavior modification. However, the researchers also found considerable variation in the methodological quality of the studies. Further research using more rigorous designs is therefore needed to establish the effectiveness of clinical hypnosis across different types of chronic diseases.
Martaria Rizky Rinaldi explained that the findings demonstrate the growing international interest in the use of hypnosis as an approach that complements medical treatment.
“Clinical hypnosis is not intended to replace medical treatment but can serve as a complementary intervention to help patients manage various psychological and physical aspects while undergoing treatment for chronic diseases. The evidence we reviewed shows considerable promise, particularly in helping reduce pain and improve patients’ quality of life,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kwartarini Wahyu Yuniarti emphasized that further research with stronger methodological quality is needed to gain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the benefits of clinical hypnosis.
“We observed variations in methods, types of interventions, and participant characteristics across the published studies. Therefore, future research needs to employ more rigorous designs so that the effectiveness of clinical hypnosis can be evaluated more accurately and provide a stronger basis for the development of evidence-based practice,” she explained.
According to the research team, the findings provide an overview of the development of clinical hypnosis research at the international level while also opening opportunities for the advancement of evidence-based psychological research and services in Indonesia, particularly in supporting the management of chronic diseases that require multidisciplinary approaches.
Editor: Zufar
Layout: Fauzi