Despite growing evidence for hypnotherapy as an adjunctive intervention for major depressive disorder (MDD), uptake remains limited, partly due to patient misconceptions and stigma. Attitudinal research in non-Western clinical populations remains scarce. This study examined attitudes toward hypnotherapy among Malaysian adults with MDD, the influence of demographic and clinical variables on those attitudes, and the psychosocial factors underlying them. A mixed-methods design was used. Sixty-two outpatients with a DSM-5-TR diagnosis of MDD completed the Malay-translated Attitudes Toward Hypnosis Questionnaire (ATHQ-Malay) and the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ). A purposive extreme-case subsample of ten participants completed structured interviews, analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis. Demographic variables did not significantly predict ATHQ-Malay scores. The sole significant finding was higher Mental Stability among medicated participants, t(60) = 2.52, p = .014. Four qualitative themes emerged: concerns about control and privacy, trust and mental preparedness, media influence and public perception, and therapeutic efficacy and expectations. Attitudes toward hypnotherapy were shaped by psychosocial rather than demographic factors. Targeted psychoeducation addressing control, confidentiality, and therapeutic credibility may meaningfully improve receptivity to hypnotherapy as an adjunctive treatment for MDD.
Poor sleep quality is a common health issue among caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Behavioral interventions such as hypnosis have been proposed for improving sleep in this population since pharmacological measures can impair their ability to wake up readily to provide care. The present pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of a hypnosis intervention program for improving sleep quality in caregivers of individuals with ADRD. A sample of 21 eligible adults was randomly assigned to either a self-administered hypnosis or a sham hypnosis group. The findings indicated feasibility of accrual, randomization, and intervention delivery. The mean treatment satisfaction rating score was 8.75 (SD = 1.28) in the treatment group, on a 0-to-10 numerical rating scale (0 = highly dissatisfied, 10 = highly satisfied). The mean ease-of-use rating for the treatment procedures was 8.50 (SD = .93) in the treatment condition. Results found improvements in sleep quality and duration as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep diaries.
This study examined the effectiveness of the Hypnotherapy Protocol for Migraine in Adults (HPMA) in alleviating pain perception and migraine symptoms among outpatients. It was designed as a randomized controlled trial comprising three phases: baseline, intervention, and follow-up, which included both an experimental group and a wait-list control group. The sample consisted of 40 outpatients from Iran, categorized into those with aura, those without aura, and those with chronic migraine, selected through random sampling for each group. The research employed the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ;) and the Ahvaz Migraine Questionnaire (AMQ;) for assessment. The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of HPMA, scheduled biweekly, with each session lasting 60 minutes. The analysis indicated that the experimental group showed a significant reduction in pain perception (including sensory, affective, and total scores of SF-MPQ) and migraine symptoms when compared to the wait-list control group during both the intervention and follow-up phases.
Ambiguous loss involves uncertainty regarding the physical or psychological presence of a significant person and limited opportunities for clear confirmation or closure. Such uncertainty may contribute to persistent emotional distress, difficulty adapting, and reduced psychological well-being. This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of a structured, five-session Hypnotic-Oriented Counseling intervention for reducing psychological reactions associated with ambiguous loss and enhancing psychological well-being among college students. Employing an A-B-A single-case experimental design, three undergraduate participants with elevated ambiguous loss and low baseline happiness received weekly Hypnotic-Oriented Counseling. Outcomes were assessed using the Ambiguous Loss Inventory Plus (ALI+) and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire-Short Form (OHQ-SF). Data were analyzed using visual inspection, non-overlap indices (NAP and Tau-U), the Reliable Change Index (RCI), effect size estimates, and post-intervention qualitative interviews. Across participants, visual and quantitative analyses indicated reductions in psychological distress associated with ambiguous loss and improvements in psychological well-being following the intervention, with gains maintained during the post-intervention phase. NAP values ranged from 0.60 to 1.00, and all RCI scores exceeded the |1.96| threshold. Cohen's d estimates indicated moderate-to-very-large changes across participants. Qualitative findings further indicated improvements in emotional regulation, self-acceptance, and tolerance of uncertainty. These preliminary findings suggest that a structured hypnotic-oriented counseling intervention may be a promising brief approach for college students experiencing ambiguous loss, although the findings should be interpreted cautiously given the three-participant sample and absence of a control condition.
