Research on Hypnosis to Quit Smoking
Hypnosis Most Effective Says Largest Study Ever:
3 Times Effectiveness of Patch and 15 Times Willpower.
Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit. A meta-analysis, statistically combining results of more than 600 studies of 72 000 people from America and Europe to compare various methods of quitting. On average – hypnosis was over three times as effective as nicotine replacement methods and 15 times as effective as trying to quit alone.
Source: Schmidt F, Viswesvaran C. How One in Five Have Given Up Smoking. New Scientist. 1992 Oct 31; 136(1845):6.
90.6% Success Rate Using Hypnosis
Of 43 consecutive patients undergoing this treatment protocol, 39 reported remaining abstinent at follow-up (6 months to 3 years post-treatment), representing a 90.6% success rate using hypnosis.
Source: Barber J. Freedom from smoking: integrating hypnotic methods and rapid smoking to facilitate smoking cessation. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2001 Jul;49(3):257-66.
87% Reported Abstinence Using Hypnosis
A field study of 93 male and 93 female CMHC outpatients examined the facilitation of smoking cessation by using hypnosis. At 3-mo. follow-up, 86% of the men and 87% of the women reported continued abstinence using hypnosis.
Source: Johnson DL, Karkut RT. Performance by gender in a stop-smoking program combining hypnosis and aversion. Psychol Rep. 1994 Oct;75(2):851-7.
81% Reported They Had Stopped Smoking
Thirty smokers enrolled in an HMO were referred by their primary physician for treatment. Twenty-one patients returned after an initial consultation and received hypnosis for smoking cessation. At the end of treatment, 81% of those patients reported that they had stopped smoking, and 48% reported abstinence at 12 months post-treatment.
Source: Elkins GR, Rajab MH. Clinical hypnosis for smoking cessation: preliminary results of a three-session intervention. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2004 Jan;52(1):73-81.
Hypnosis Patients Twice As Likely To Quit
Study of 71 smokers showed that after a two-year follow up,
patients that quit with hypnosis were twice as likely to still be smoke-free than those who quit on their own.
Source: Wynd C. Guided health imagery for smoking cessation and long-term abstinence. J Nrsg Scholshp. 2005 Aug 19; 37(3):245-50.
More Effective Than Drug Interventions
Group hypnosis, evaluated at a less effective success rate than individualized hypnosis (at 22%). However, still demonstrated here as more effective than drug interventions.
Source: Ahijevych K, Nedilsky N, Yerardi R. Descriptive outcomes of the American Lung Association of Ohio hypnotherapy smoking cessation program. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2000 Oct;48(4):374-87
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