"Close your eyes and relax": the role of hypnosis in reducing anxiety, and its implications for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Donato Giuseppe Leo, Simon S Keller, Riccardo Proietti
Frontiers in Psychology July 5, 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1411835 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Hypnosis Hypnotherapy |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Cardiovascular disease Mental health Hypnosis Hypnotherapy |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that hypnosis and hypnotherapy are effective in treating anxiety and may positively affect the cardiovascular system by reducing sympathetic activation and increasing parasympathetic tone, potentially preventing CVD linked to increased sympathetic activation. They note that further studies are needed to understand how hypnosis affects the cardiovascular system and recommend mental health screening for patients at risk of CVD. |
Abstract
Anxiety is the most common form of mental health disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. Psychosocial interventions such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been suggested as an effective treatment in the management of general anxiety and anxiety disorders, with emerging evidence also suggesting the effectiveness of hypnosis. Moreover, anxiety has shown to be linked to the onset and development of several cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are the leading cause of global death. In this paper, we review the current literature to examine the role that anxiety has on the onset and development of CVD and summarize the current knowledge on the role that hypnosis and hypnotherapy have in reducing anxiety, also explaining how this can impact the cardiovascular system and the prevention of CVD. Review of the evidence suggests that hypnosis and hypnotherapy are effective in treating anxiety and may positively affect the heart and the cardiovascular system, reducing sympathetic activation and increasing parasympathetic tone, potentially preventing the onset of CVD related to increased sympathetic activation. However, further studies are required to further understand how hypnosis and hypnotherapy affect the cardiovascular system through investigation of the neurophysiological components of the hypnotic state and of the mind-body relationship. Healthcare systems should embed mental health screening in patients at risk of developing CVD as part of the clinical pathway and consider the role that hypnosis and hypnotherapy may play in the management of CVD.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review General (healthcare, schools, workplace) | 2021 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology | 2018 | Review | |
| Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Challenges and Strategies | 2020 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- A Fragmented Mind: Altered States of Consciousness and Spirit Possession Between Rituals and Therapy. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science July 30, 2025
- Evaluating the IDEA Framework: An Integrative Approach to Enhancing Well-Being via Yoga, Meditation, Bilateral Stimulation, and Hypnotherapy International Journal of Positivity & Well-Being March 1, 2026
Cites 7
- Consciousness: New Concepts and Neural Networks. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience July 9, 2019
- Impact of a Yoga and Meditation Intervention on Students' Stress and Anxiety Levels American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education June 1, 2019
- Brain Activity and Functional Connectivity Associated with Hypnosis. Cerebral Cortex August 1, 2017
- The Effectiveness of Daily Mindful Breathing Practices on Test Anxiety of Students. PLoS One October 20, 2016
- Neural correlates of consciousness: what we know and what we have to learn! Neurological Sciences January 15, 2015
and 2 more in the library