Hypnotherapy may help manage surgery pain - trial

A new trial in Somerset has suggested the use of hypnotherapy could help manage pain in patients after colorectal surgery.

The data, which has yet to be verified, is part of a year-long study with 40 patients receiving medical hypnotherapy.

Early indications show those who received the therapy recorded lower pain scores after the surgery.

The doctor leading the study hopes it will be used to improve patient care in the future.

Matthew Stanford-Page from Taunton, who was part of the trial, said: "I was a bit sceptical - I've not been hypnotised, but even after the first meeting it really relaxed me."

He said he was sitting in a comfortable room while the therapist "asked me some questions about myself, nothing too deep, just what I like".

"Then she used some very relaxing words and some processes where you think deeply and then you start to relax. You're very conscious. And it almost takes you into a different plane of thought."

He likened the experience to day dreaming, adding his happy place was "Teletubby land" with its hills and flowers.

Ana-Marie Toth, the clinical nurse researcher leading the study, told BBC Radio Somerset that being under hypnosis allowed patients to go into a more "focused state".

She added: "Hypnosis is being used in a safe and controlled environment in acute hospitals. It is evidence-based and, potentially, it could improve patient care.

"The way we deliver hypnosis in hospitals is by talking to the patient, and guiding a patient towards a place where they feel comfortable, where they feel safe.

"Medical hypnosis is well regulated and patient-centred."

Ms Toth said the next stage of the trial was to undergo a detailed analysis of the results, and later expand the study.

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