Neurosci Biobehav Rev April 2019 PMID 30790634

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials.

Trevor Thompson, Devin B Terhune, Charlotte Oram, Joseph Sharangparni, Rommana Rouf, Marco Solmi, Nicola Veronese, Brendon Stubbs

Download social card

Mentions

162
Peak: 9 in Apr 2019
across 6 sources since Mar 2019

Extended reach

200,476
potential audience

Total likes

1,665

Video views

59,762

Mentions per month

Mar 2019 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News114 articles
  • X / Twitter31 posts
  • YouTube7 videos
  • Blogs5 articles
  • Facebook3 posts
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects a positive perception of hypnosis as a pain management technique, with posts emphasizing that the meta-analysis involved 85 controlled trials and 3,632 participants, and noting the significant pain reductions among suggestible individuals. Some comments question the quality of the evidence or compare hypnosis skeptically to other methods, illustrating a mix of support and critique shaped by precise language and reference to scientific sources.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most social discussions recognize or support the findings that hypnosis can be effective for pain relief, indicating general agreement with the publication.

InterestHigh interest

Several posts show high interest, referencing the number of studies and meta-analysis details, suggesting curiosity and engagement with the research.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments range from brief mentions to direct critiques, indicating moderate engagement; some users question the validity or compare hypnosis to other methods, showing active involvement.

ImpactModerate impact

Discussions highlight the relevance of the findings, with some asserting that the research could influence treatment approaches, reflecting a moderate to high perceived impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 studies shows that hypnosis can significantly reduce pain, especially when direct analgesic suggestions are used and when individuals are highly or moderately suggestible.
  • The effectiveness of hypnosis varies based on individuals' susceptibility to suggestion, with high and medium suggestibles experiencing substantial pain relief, while low suggestibles see minimal benefit.
  • Although hypnosis appears to be a promising and safe alternative to medication for pain relief, more high-quality clinical research is needed to confirm its effectiveness, particularly for chronic pain patients.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Brian D. Earp, Ph.D.
@briandavidearp · X

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials | Request PDF https://t.co/Xu6chSeMsA

Apr 13, 2019 · 7 likes · 4 shares · 26,084 followers View post →
Rodri Tanoto (陳曉陽)
@RodriChen · X

Selengkapnya: Tentang shamanic trance: https://t.co/uwb4ph9ywm Tentang battle trance: https://t.co/po2WA3Fzkz Tentang efek placebo: https://t.co/pBMuuEOj1k Tentang hipnosis dan nyeri: https://t.co/NClfICWL6c

Feb 5, 2023 · 6 likes · 1 share · 31,505 followers View post →
Darek
@DariuszDziala · X

@alekrasowska @utrzebe @gazeta_wyborcza Np. użycie hipnozy przy analgezji? Pierwsza lepsza metaanaliza - https://t.co/Fb7m5h3poW

Feb 19, 2025 · 5 likes · 18 followers View post →
Vijay
@vijayanandnz · X

The effectiveness of #hypnosis for #pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials https://t.co/iYw96PNaki https://t.co/3AnXBFUqDN

Mar 4, 2019 · 3 likes · 4 shares · 3,310 followers View post →
Darek
@DariuszDziala · X

@kraela78 @alekrasowska @gazeta_wyborcza Serio stawianie hipnozy na równi z Hellingerem i bioenergoterapią? Przecież to jest ignoranctwo - jeśli jest Pani lekarzem to mniemam, że zagląda Pani do pubmedu? Pierwsza lepsza metaanaliza - https://t.co/Fb7m5h3poW z pozostałych dwóch Pani nie znajdzie nic jakościowego.

Feb 19, 2025 · 1 like · 18 followers View post →
Ken Gusler
@kgusler · X

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials - https://t.co/UjfbwPiS3u

May 25, 2022 · 1 share · 20,037 followers View post →

All mentions

Shawn Gallagher
@ChildbirthJoy · X

Pain relief with hypnosis: 85 studies, 3,632 participants: "These findings suggest that hypnotic intervention can deliver meaningful pain relief for most people and therefore may be an effective and safe alternative to pharmaceutical intervention." https://t.co/0ZPJOZTjWz https://t.co/uAJ8ZhyMRP

Oct 28, 2025 · 1,622 followers View post →
Shawn Gallagher
@ChildbirthJoy · X

Pain relief with hypnosis: 85 studies, 3,632 participants: "These findings suggest that hypnotic intervention can deliver meaningful pain relief for most people and therefore may be an effective and safe alternative to pharmaceutical intervention." https://t.co/0ZPJOZTjWz https://t.co/STKdeXam46

Oct 28, 2025 · 1,622 followers View post →
Darek
@DariuszDziala · X

@kraela78 @alekrasowska @gazeta_wyborcza Serio stawianie hipnozy na równi z Hellingerem i bioenergoterapią? Przecież to jest ignoranctwo - jeśli jest Pani lekarzem to mniemam, że zagląda Pani do pubmedu? Pierwsza lepsza metaanaliza - https://t.co/Fb7m5h3poW z pozostałych dwóch Pani nie znajdzie nic jakościowego.

Feb 19, 2025 · 1 like · 18 followers View post →
Darek
@DariuszDziala · X

@alekrasowska @utrzebe @gazeta_wyborcza Np. użycie hipnozy przy analgezji? Pierwsza lepsza metaanaliza - https://t.co/Fb7m5h3poW

Feb 19, 2025 · 5 likes · 18 followers View post →
Ih kaget
@wkwkmakasih · X

RT @RodriChen: Selengkapnya: Tentang shamanic trance: https://t.co/uwb4ph9ywm Tentang battle trance: https://t.co/po2WA3Fzkz Tentang efek p…

Feb 5, 2023 · 1 share · 3 followers View post →
Rodri Tanoto (陳曉陽)
@RodriChen · X

Selengkapnya: Tentang shamanic trance: https://t.co/uwb4ph9ywm Tentang battle trance: https://t.co/po2WA3Fzkz Tentang efek placebo: https://t.co/pBMuuEOj1k Tentang hipnosis dan nyeri: https://t.co/NClfICWL6c

Feb 5, 2023 · 6 likes · 1 share · 31,505 followers View post →
Pedro RodriguesPaiva
@PedroRodPai · X

@P4D01 @Sonic_urticant @edasfr @France2tv Genre... https://t.co/WoItjAjpPG

Jul 20, 2022 · 235 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @kgusler: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials - ht…

May 25, 2022 · 1 share · 6,717 followers View post →
Ken Gusler
@kgusler · X

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials - https://t.co/UjfbwPiS3u

May 25, 2022 · 1 share · 20,037 followers View post →
Miguel
@PsqIbiza · X

@drmiguelmarcos @cescept @qmph_es El metaanálisis sistemático más reciente: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. Thompson T, et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019.

Nov 1, 2019 · 1,321 followers View post →
CJ Webster
@CJWebster · X

RT @HypnosisPapers: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tria…

Jul 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 570 followers View post →
tejaspatel2016
@tejaspatel2016 · X

RT @HypnosisPapers: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tria…

Jul 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 316 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @HypnosisPapers: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tria…

Jul 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 6,717 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @HypnosisPapers: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tria…

Jul 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 6,717 followers View post →
Hypnosis Papers
@HypnosisPapers · X

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. https://t.co/zr0a7EuX2l #hypnosis #research

Jul 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 454 followers View post →
Hypnosis Papers
@HypnosisPapers · X

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. https://t.co/zr0a7EuX2l #hypnosis #pain #research

Jul 12, 2019 · 2 shares · 454 followers View post →
painmanwise
@painmanwise · X

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. https://t.co/YLvz2EZ6cY

Jul 12, 2019 · 227 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @nchypnosis: In a newly published Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews meta-analysis of 85 published studies of clinical hypnosis for pa…

Apr 24, 2019 · 1 share · 6,717 followers View post →
NC Society of Clinical Hypnosis
@nchypnosis · X

In a newly published Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews meta-analysis of 85 published studies of clinical hypnosis for pain reduction, highly and moderately suggestible subjects reported 42% and 29% pain reduction, respectively. https://t.co/ybKv4a4AoW https://t.co/cMM1kCyeXi

Apr 24, 2019 · 1 share · 116 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @GALAeprints: LATEST ADDITIONS: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled ex…

Apr 16, 2019 · 1 share · 6,717 followers View post →
GALA
@GALAeprints · X

LATEST ADDITIONS: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials https://t.co/5bQVvENdAf

Apr 16, 2019 · 1 share · 181 followers View post →
Nicola Grignoli
@NGrignoli · X

RT @briandavidearp: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tria…

Apr 14, 2019 · 4 shares · 530 followers View post →
Rob Kiser, DO, MSPH
@rckiser · X

RT @briandavidearp: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tria…

Apr 13, 2019 · 4 shares · 1,037 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @briandavidearp: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tria…

Apr 13, 2019 · 4 shares · 6,717 followers View post →
Sebastian Hendricks (he/him)
@Hearing4Kids · X

RT briandavidearp: The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials | Request PDF https://t.co/KBuPsxmV5P

Apr 13, 2019 · 659 followers View post →
Brian D. Earp, Ph.D.
@briandavidearp · X

The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials | Request PDF https://t.co/Xu6chSeMsA

Apr 13, 2019 · 7 likes · 4 shares · 26,084 followers View post →
Cabinet de TOMBEUR
@Osteo_du_sport · X

"The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials - ScienceDirect": https://t.co/cIbVGkcYUB

Mar 14, 2019 · 1 share · 1,136 followers View post →
Amarins Wijma-Wester
@amarinswijma · X

RT @PainFreeIndia: The effectiveness of #hypnosis for #pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tri…

Mar 4, 2019 · 4 shares · 714 followers View post →
Dr Prit Anand Singh
@pritanand · X

RT @PainFreeIndia: The effectiveness of #hypnosis for #pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tri…

Mar 4, 2019 · 4 shares · 1,423 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @PainFreeIndia: The effectiveness of #hypnosis for #pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental tri…

Mar 4, 2019 · 4 shares · 6,717 followers View post →
Vijay
@vijayanandnz · X

The effectiveness of #hypnosis for #pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials https://t.co/iYw96PNaki https://t.co/3AnXBFUqDN

Mar 4, 2019 · 3 likes · 4 shares · 3,310 followers View post →