Rick Collingwood Hypnosis Cancer Therapy

Rick Collingwood's
Hypnosis Cancer Therapy

Introduction / Trial Participant 1 / Trial Participant 2 / Trial Participant 3 / Trial Participant 4
Trial Participant 5 / Trial Participant 6 / Trial Participant 7 / Trial Participant 8 / Trial Participant 9 Cancer Trial Results / Cancer trial References / Cancer Hypnosis Testimonials

Results of the Cancer Trials

Collingwood BR, Elliott NJ.*

Australian Academy of Hypnosis TM and Advanced Mind Dynamics Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia.

Abstract

Complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by cancer patients is becoming 
much more prevalent the world over. Many beneficial outcomes have been seen from 
the addition of hypnosis to conventional protocols. As with all treatments, the focus 
of the hypnotherapy is to ameliorate the effects of pain and to restore a level of 
psychological and physical wellbeing and functioning Methods: 
The EORTC QOL-QC 30 core questionnaire was used to assess changes in perceived 
quality of life. Each patient received six hypnotherapy sessions; the sessions were 
conducted by the same hypnotherapist each time and questionnaires completed 
prior to induction of trance.

Results: Responses from the questionnaire were evaluated comparing the initial 
uestionnaire with the final questionnaire. Statistically significant improvements were 
noted with Fatigue (fa) (35.75% to 12.38%; p<0.0044), Global health status (ql) 
(63.5% to 79.00%; p<0.0058), Insomnia (sl) (53.75% to 8.25%; p<0.008) and 
Physical functioning (pf) (75.75% to 87.25%; p<0.0395) All aspects of the 
questionnaire showed improvement following the six hypnosis sessions.

Conclusions: Overall patients experienced the benefit of hypnosis in reducing 
symptoms and increasing their overall quality of life. Many patients commented 
hat commencing hypnosis at the time of diagnosis of cancer, and continuing 
throughout their treatment, would have been greatly beneficial. In this study, 
specific non-Ericksonian hypnosis techniques were beneficial for symptom 
control and in increasing the quality of life in patients with cancer.

Background:Complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by cancer 
patients is becoming much more prevalent around the world. Patients with all the 
tumour types and stages use CAM [1] in the hope of cure, disease control, 
longer survival, improved quality of life and palliation. Most CAM is the used in 
addition to current conventional medical treatment, therefore it does not reduce 
health costs and disclosure to physicians is usually incomplete. [1,2] Breast cancer 
patients who use CAM tend to have higher levels of psychosocial distress.[3] 
CAM-CANCER is a retrospective literature analysis which hopes to generate 
statements on CAM in cancer. [4]

Introduction

During the period surrounding the diagnosis of cancer people can experience 
anxiety, emotional and physical distress and mood disturbance. During treatment 
these symptoms are often compounded by treatment side-effects including nausea, 
vomiting, procedural and disease related physical pain and symptoms. Conventional 
medicine targets pain, distress and depression however conventional treatments do 
not always relieve these symptoms to patient satisfaction. Often these patients 
will opt for complementary and alternative medicine such as acupuncture, 
naturopathy, homeopathy, mind-body techniques and a host of others in an 
attempt to reduce symptoms, emotional and physical distress, and even in the 
hope of a cure.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define mind-body therapies (MBT’s) as 
“interventions that use a variety of techniques designed to facilitate the mind's 
capacity to affect bodily functions and symptoms”. Many hospitals are seeing the 
benefit of these therapies in the conjunction with current treatments and establishing 
Mind-Body Cancer Research Programs or “Alternative Therapy Centres”.[5] Hypnosis 
has been used to reduce side-effects with treatment and allow patients to function 
better emotionally and physically.[1-9] Many literature reviews describe beneficial 
outcomes from the addition of hypnosis to conventional protocols.[6] Quality of life 
in cancer patients is one common measure for treatment success particularly in 
palliation. Symptoms relating to psychological distress and existential concerns 
are even more prevalent than pain and other physical symptoms among those 
with life-limiting conditions.[5] Therefore there exists a need for a broad and 
inclusive model of integration of mind-body interventions for palliative care.

In previous studies “Existential Psychological Theory has [been] employed as a 
conceptual and theoretical foundation for the use of hypnotically facilitated 
herapy in the management of intractable pain, nausea, and vomiting in end-stage, 
terminally ill cancer patients.”[7] Iglesias (2004) stated ”the existential principles of 
death anxiety, existential isolation, and existential meaninglessness were addressed with a combination of classic and Ericksonian techniques to allow medication to become 
effective in treating symptoms.” After 6 sessions patients previously unresponsive to 
medical management became responsive to treatment. In radiotherapy the patients 
wellbeing and own sense of mental health showed improvement without symptom 
improvement having statistical significance.[8] Just as with psychotherapy and 
prescribing habits can vary greatly so too can hypnotherapy techniques. As with all 
treatments, the focus of the hypnotherapy is to ameliorate the effects of pain and to 
restore a level of psychological and physical wellbeing and functioning.[5-9] 
Specific non-Ericksonian hypnosis techniques were used in the following study 
designed to improve quality of life in a sample of cancer patients.

Patients and Methods

The study was conducted on nine patients (4 male and 5 female) with various 
cancers, one with prostate, two with bowel, three with breast, and two with esophageal 
cancer. To participate patients obtained a referral from their treating doctor and were 
required to remain on current conventional medical treatment unless modified by 
their treating doctor. The EORTC QOL-QC 30 core questionnaire was used to assess 
changes in perceived quality of life. Questionnaires were completed at the initial interview 
and then prior to each hypnosis session. All patients were able to complete 
questionnaires unassisted and all questions were answered. Patients were also 
given a hypnosis CD to listen to once a day during the course of the study. Each 
patient received six hypnotherapy sessions, the sessions were conducted by the same hypnotherapist each time. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test analysis.
 

Results

Of the nine patients commencing the study eight were able to complete all six 
sessions of hypnotherapy. One female patient withdrew after four sessions due to 
weakness following intensive radiotherapy. The average age of male patients was 63 years 
(range 50-76 years), and the average age of female patients was 56 years (range 47-64 years). 
All patients completing the study maintained regular contact with their doctor. Data was 
analysed from questionnaires for the initial session (pre-treatment) and final session.

Figure 1 demonstrates that the study patients have improved values on all functional 
scales and also have reduced average levels on symptom scales.

Responses from the questionnaire were evaluated comparing the initial questionnaire 
with the final questionnaire. Statistically significant improvements were noted with 
Fatigue (fa) (35.75% to 12.38%; p<0.0044), Global health status (ql) (63.5% to 
79.00%; p<0.0058), Insomnia (sl) (53.75% to 8.25%; p<0.008) and Physical 
functioning (pf) (75.75% to 87.25%; p<0.0395)

Moderate significance was seen in Constipation (co) (20.63% to 4.13%; p<0.1036), 
Cognitive functioning (cf) (68.75% to 85.5%; p<0.138) and Nausea (nv) 
(20.88% to 0%; p<0.095).

Improvements were seen in Emotional functioning (ef) (66.88% to 82.25%; p<0.125), 
Pain (pa) improved (26.88% to 14.63%; p<0.171), Diarrhea (di) (12.38% to 4.13%; p<0.171), 
Role functioning (rf) (29.13% to 54.25%; p<0.351) and Dyspnoea (dy) improved 
(8.25% to 4.13%; p<0.351)

Discussion

Insomnia is a prevalent form of sleep difficulty which can affect all of the population 
reducing quality of life, decreasing work potential and increasing health care 
utilization.[10-11] The analysis showed that one of the most statistically significant 
improvements was in insomnia (p<0.008). The patient’s initial responses to insomnia 
were slightly higher than those suggested for the general population. [10] This would 
be expected as disease and mood factors influence insomnia. The response to the 
hypnosis was rapid with most patients reporting their insomnia was dramatically 
improved within the first three sessions of hypnosis. This improvement was then maintained 
for the remainder of the study. Figure 2 represents the initial and final assessments 
of patients in the study and their sleep patterns. Final responses indicate that the 
hypnosis treatments allowed the patients to enjoy a much better and longer sleep.

Figure 2 shows a graphical depiction of the four point scale which allows patients to 
describe with their lack of sleep over the past week. Sleep difficulty can also cause 
irritability, depression and fatigue.[11] Anxiety and depression in patients can be 
a factor increasing insomnia and treating any underlying problem has been shown to 
help alleviate insomnia.[13] Emotional functioning issues like irritability, tension, 
anxiety and depression all decreased during the study period which may have also 
added to 
the insomnia improvement.

Many symptoms that patients experience during cancer treatments are related 
either to their medication or directly to the cancer. Gastrointestinal symptoms like 
diarrhea and constipation can lead to nausea and appetite loss. Throughout the study 
period the participants showed increased appetite and reduced nausea and vomiting. 
One patient was amazed by the return of normal taste sensation (instead of a metallic taste) 
and another began to put on weight whilst undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 
Figure 3 shows the reduction in the nausea and vomiting experienced by patients in the study.

Other studies have demonstrated improvements in the efficacy of medication following 
hypnosis. [7] Over the study period patient’s reduced “when required“anti-nausea 
medication the hypnosis seemed to impact on overall nausea. This indicates that 
the reduction was not merely in their perception of the symptom or an increased 
effect of their current medication.

Physical functioning; which consists of ability to take a long or short walk, the patients 
need to spend time in a bed or chair, their ability to carry out their own daily activities 
and ability to perform strenuous activity, improved as a result of the hypnosis sessions. 
During the study there were changes that occurred in patient’s perception of daily 
activities. Initially many patients described a long walk as being a distance of one 
kilometre, however, at the conclusion of the study many patients perceived a long 
walk to be four kilometres or more. The increase in energy described by patients 
and the change in their perception of a long walk may indicate that there were 
direct effects on the body’s energy levels from the hypnosis not just an increase 
in sleep reducing fatigue.

Fatigue has been seen as one of the most common symptoms experienced by 
cancer patients and is associated with significant impairment in functioning and overall 
quality of life. [14] Fatigue showed the greatest response statistically, with all patients 
describing increased energy levels, decreased time spent at rest and a greater ability 
to live their lives the way they wish. Although the precise pathophysiology of fatigue 
in cancer is not well known [14] figure 4 shows that hypnosis had a profound effect 
on participant’s experience of fatigue in this study.

Global health status / QOL represents a patients feeling as to their overall wellbeing. 
It is based upon that individual’s beliefs and experiences. Psychiatric disorders, 
such as major depressive disease and post traumatic stress disorder, are significantly 
associated with lower functional scales ('emotional functioning', 'body image' and 
'future perspective') and higher symptom scales ('appetite loss', 'diarrhea', 'fatigue' and 
'nausea-vomiting') in QOL.[15] During the study some of the participant’s global health 
status measure dipped dramatically after the second session, even with improvements 
in all other aspects of their questionnaire. When participants were questioned about this 
decline they stated that they were previously comparing their QOL with when they were 
sick, now they compared it to how they felt before they had any symptoms. All patients 
in their subsequent questionnaires then showed improved global health status, this indicates 
the change in outlook of participants to their quality of life.

Conclusions

The hypnotic techniques used in this study showed improvements in all aspects of 
the patient’s quality of life. Patients had more energy and were more active after 
hypnosis more able to cope with the difficulties that they face in their every day lives. 
A clinically significant improvement was seen with insomnia, nausea, physical 
functioning, and global health status. Hypnosis can effect perception of symptoms 
however in this study the results seemed to point to a deeper change with energy 
and fatigue being modified positively. The experience of hypnosis was described as 
beneficial by all patients and reductions in symptoms and increased overall quality of life. 
Patients commented that they would have seen the best benefit if hypnosis was begun 
around the time of diagnosis of cancer and continuing throughout their treatment.

In this study, hypnosis has been beneficial for symptom control and in increasing the 
quality of life in patients with cancer. Further research into the use of specific 
non-Ericksonian hypnosis techniques for symptom control and improved quality of 
life involving a larger number of participants, are needed to support these results.

Introduction / Trial Participant 1 / Trial Participant 2 / Trial Participant 3 / Trial Participant 4
Trial Participant 5 / Trial Participant 6 / Trial Participant 7 / Trial Participant 8 / Trial Participant 9 Cancer Trial Results / Cancer trial References / Cancer Hypnosis Testimonials

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