NIH Study Overview

This NIH-funded, $3 million, 4-year study compared the effectiveness of hypnotherapy to medication (solifenacin) for treating overactive bladder (OAB) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) in women. The study was conducted at the University of New Mexico Hospital and published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Participants and Design

• Total Participants: 152 women

• Groups: Randomly assigned to hypnotherapy (74 participants) or medication (78 participants)

• Design: Randomized controlled trial (investigator-masked), considered the gold standard for research

Treatment Details

1. Hypnotherapy Group:

   • Received multiple sessions using Integral Hypnotherapy methodology

   • Sessions tailored to individual patient needs

2. Medication Group:

   • Received solifenacin, the standard medical treatment for OAB/UUI

Key Findings

1. Overall Effectiveness:

   • Both treatments significantly reduced UUI episodes

   • Median reduction of 85% or more in UUI episodes at follow-up appointments (2, 6, and 12 months)

2. Long-Term Results:

   • Improvements sustained for at least 12 months after treatment

3. Side Effects:

   • Medication group reported more side effects (e.g., dry mouth, constipation)

   • Hypnotherapy group experienced fewer side effects

4. Hypnotic Responsiveness and Superiority:

   • For participants who were moderately to highly responsive to hypnosis, hypnotherapy showed superior results compared to medication

   • At the one-year follow-up, these highly responsive participants had better outcomes than those in the standard medical treatment group

   • This suggests that hypnotherapy could be particularly effective for individuals who are more susceptible to hypnosis

5. Quality of Life:

   • Both treatments improved participants' quality of life

   • Hypnotherapy showed slightly better results in some areas

6. Cost-Effectiveness:

   • Hypnotherapy was found to be more cost-effective in the long run

Significance of the Study

1. Scientific Rigor: The study design (randomized controlled trial) and significant sample size add credibility to the findings.

2. Comparative Approach: This study directly compared hypnotherapy to the current standard medical treatment, which is relatively rare in hypnosis research.

3. Individualized Treatment: The use of Integral Hypnotherapy™ methodology allowed for tailoring sessions to individual patient needs.

4. Long-term Follow-up: The study included follow-ups at 2, 6, and 12 months, providing insight into the long-term effectiveness of both treatments.

5. Hypnotic Responsiveness Factor: The study highlighted the importance of individual responsiveness to hypnosis, showing that highly responsive individuals may benefit more from hypnotherapy than from medication.

Conclusion

The study concluded that hypnotherapy is a viable and effective alternative to medication for treating OAB and UUI. It offers several advantages, including fewer side effects and better cost-effectiveness. Importantly, for individuals who are moderately to highly responsive to hypnosis, hypnotherapy may be superior to medication in treating these conditions.This research provides strong scientific evidence supporting the use of hypnotherapy in a medical context, potentially paving the way for greater acceptance and integration of hypnotherapy within the medical field. It suggests that hypnotherapy could be considered as a first-line treatment option, especially for patients who are likely to be responsive to hypnosis, prefer non-drug therapies, or cannot tolerate medication side effects.