Hypnosis For Fibromyalgia

Hypnosis for Fibromyalgia. In the Feb. 2017 European Journal of Pain, N. Zech and associates reported on a meta-analysis of other studies that used Guided Imagery/Hypnosis to treat fibromyalgia. Strong clinical benefits were found in pain relief and in relief from psychological distress. Guided Imagery/Hypnosis can be used in combination with CBT to reduce key symptoms of fibromyalgia.

An update ot treatment guidelines was done by V. Kollner and associates and reported in 2017 in the German journal Pain . CBT received a strong recommendation but Guided imagery/Hypnosis was only weakly recommended. This is an apparent contrast to the Zech study mentioned above.

Also in Feb. 2017 in Annual of Rheumatology Disorders, G. McFarlane and associates reported the results of a metanalysis of treatment procedures for fibromyalgia. It was found that most treatments produced only modest results and a clearly “best treatment” was not apparent.

Of the various psychological therapies available for the treatment of fibromyalgia it is clear tht one size does not fit all. Until more is known about matching the right treatment to the right patient, a multimodal approach including hypnosis, seems prudent.

If your present treatment does not help you to feel better and to function better, the psychological therapies are available to reduce troubled moods and unhelpful coping responses.

Personal statement. I believe that hypnosis is a useful part of the treatment mix. The therapist does not have to impose his views on the patient. Rather, the seeds of some productive change in thoughts, feelings or behavior can be planted and then it can be left to the patient to either reject or develop further growth in her own way.