Hypnotherapy seen reducing hot flashes

PROVIDENCE – Hypnotherapy effectively reduces hot flashes in breast cancer survivors by 80-85 percent, according to a study by a team of researchers affiliated with Women & Infants Hospital.
The study – “Randomized controlled trial comparing hypnotherapy versus gabapentin for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study” – was recently printed in BMJ Open.
Dr. Shannon MacLaughlan David, a fellow in Women & Infants Program in Women’s Oncology at the time she conducted the study and now on the faculty at Stanford University, was the primary investigator on the study.
In the recent publication of the results of the study – which included the efforts of Dr. Jennifer S. Gass, assistant director of Women & Infants Breast Health Center; Dr. Cornelius Granai III, director of the Program in Women’s Oncology; Sandra Salzillo of the program’s social services department and Sandra Scuncio, director of integrative care – women who received three hypnotherapy sessions reported a significant decrease in their hot flashes.
“Hot flashes are a major quality-of-life issue for all women going through menopause, and breast cancer survivors are often experiencing them because of the treatment we use for their cancer,” David said. •

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