HYPNOTHERAPY IN PALLIATIVE CARE

Complementary therapies have found increasing vogue in the management of patients with cancer, although little formal evaluation has been un dertaken. We report on our experience of offering hynotherapy to palli ative care outpatients in a hospice day care setting. During 2 1/2 yea rs, 256 patients had hypnotherapy, all singly; two-thirds (n=104) were women. Only 13% (n=21) had four or more treatment sessions. At the ti me of survey, the 52 patients still alive were mailed an evaluation sh eet, of whom 41 responded. 61% reported improved coping with their ill ness. 7% (n=3) reported harmful or negative effects from hypnotherapy. Amongst those whose coping was unchanged, many found the therapy a pl easant experience. 35 respondents (85%) appended positive comments to their questionnaire returns. Despite the limitations of a retrospectiv e questionnaire, our findings suggest that hypnotherapy, used within s trict guidelines in patients with advanced cancer, is a safe complemen tary therapy to enhance coping.