Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation and Relapse Prevention

Duncan, Carol

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Exhibit Hall (Kansas City Convention Center)

Carol Duncan, RD, MPH, CTTS , Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute/ VA Mental Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Timothy Carmody, PhD , Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute/VA Mental Health, University of California San Francisco/San Francisco VA, San Francisco, CA

Joel Simon, MD, MPH , Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Sharon Solkowitz, MPH , Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute/VA Mental Health, University of California San Francisco/San Francisco VA, San Francisco, CA

Joy Huggins, MA , Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute/VA Mental Health, University of California San Francisco/San Francisco VA, San Francisco, CA

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

Describe components of a hypnotic experience and how aspects of hypnosis have been measured. Summarize evidence that the use of hypnosis can contribute significantly to positive behavior change in the area of smoking cessation. Identify characteristics of subjects which may facilitate their use of hypnosis to quit smoking and stay off. Compare evidence for efficacy in smoking cessation of standard behavioral counseling versus hypnosis.

Cross Cutting Program Area(s): Cessation and Increasing Diversity/Eliminating Disparities

Audience: providers of smoking cessation services

Key Points: Hypnosis is popular, but not well understood. Some smokers may benefit from the use of hypnosis more than others. In our first randomized trial of hypnosis versus standard behavioral counseling to help smokers quit when both are combined with nicotine patches the hypnosis treatment compared favorably with the standard treatment in generating long-term quit rates. We found that among participants with a history of depression, hypnosis yielded significantly higher validated point-prevalence quit rates at 6 and 12 months than standard treatment. We have recently completed another trial of hypnosis for relapse prevention in which we randomized smokers off for three days (validated by CO level) after a standard initial behavioural therapy session including combination nicotine replacement to hypnosis or CBT sessions of the same length coupled with a recording of the same length for home practice. We assessed smoking status at 9, 26 and 52 weeks. While overall those with symptoms of depression were significantly less likely to be off at one year, depressed subjects who had been randomized to hypnosis were more likely to be off cigarettes at each follow-up.

Educational Experience: Answers to: What constituts a hypnotic experience? How is it measured? What does research show us about the efficacy of hypnosis for smoking cessation?

Benefits: Planners and providers of smoking cessation services who want to reach a wider audience will be able to make informed choices about what parameters to include in the provision of hypnotherapy should they wish to do so.

83 Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation and Relapse Prevention