Treatment of phobias and mental disorders with the help of hypnosis and meditation
Liana Spytska
Revista de Neuro-Psiquiatría June 22, 2026 DOI: 10.20453/rnp.v89i2.6432 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Hypnosis Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Hypnosis Phobias Cognition Mental health Cognitive reappraisal Mindfulness meditation Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Psychopathology Neuroimaging Perception Neurofeedback Guided imagery Specific phobia Cognitive therapy Psychological resilience Relevance law |
| Key findings | Hypnosis and meditation show promise as adjunctive interventions for phobias and mental disorders, particularly within cognitive behavioral frameworks, but require further validation through randomized controlled trials. |
Abstract
This review explores the therapeutic potential of hypnosis and meditation in managing phobias and mental disorders, particularly as non-pharmacological adjuncts in psychotherapeutic practice. The increasing global incidence of mental health conditions, coupled with interest in integrative treatment approaches, underscores the relevance of this study. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature from 2018 to 2023 was conducted using international databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. Analytical approaches included bibliographic, hermeneutic, and bibliosemantic methods to synthesise findings on clinical applications, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic outcomes associated with hypnosis and meditation. The literature indicates that hypnosis may alter cognitive and perceptual processing, contributing to reductions in stress, pain, and anxiety symptoms. Neuroimaging studies suggest alterations in brain regions involved in attention, emotion regulation, and pain perception. Mindfulness meditation has been associated with improvements in psychological resilience and emotional regulation, as well as structural brain changes connected to cognitive and affective functions. Both practices have shown potential as complementary tools within cognitive behavioural frameworks, particularly in contexts involving phobias, post-traumatic stress, and generalised anxiety. Although not yet standardised in psychiatric care, hypnosis and meditation offer promising therapeutic benefits as adjunctive interventions. Their integration into evidence-based protocols requires further validation through randomised controlled trials, standardisation of practice guidelines, and interdisciplinary evaluation of long-term outcomes across diverse populations.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |