A high proportion of postmenopausal women cannot or do not wish to follow hormonal therapy either for health reasons (for example, a history of breast cancer) or for fear of possible adverse effects. In 2023, the Menopause Society published a position statement on non-hormonal therapy, which addresses, among other options, cognitive behavioral therapy and clinical hypnosis.
Non-hormonal options to manage hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause are indeed gaining popularity, particularly for women who cannot take hormones for fear of side effects. Cognitive behavioral therapy and clinical hypnosis are the most common non-hormonal treatment options. This new “scoping” study, however, reveals that one option is more effective than the other.
The study summarizes the results of 23 research studies, published from 1996 to 2022, on these options in the treatment of hot flashes, and compares their effectiveness. Of the total studies reviewed, 8 focused on clinical hypnosis and 15 on cognitive behavioral therapy. The analysis finds that:
- clinical hypnosis interventions consistently demonstrate clinically significant effectiveness in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes, as well as improving quality of life, sleep quality, and mood;
- precisely, clinical hypnosis allows a significant reduction of more than 60% of these symptoms;
- cognitive-behavioral therapy, on the other hand, shows more mixed results, with a modest impact on reducing the frequency of hot flashes; however, the researchers point out, these therapies are not without effectiveness;
- Indeed, cognitive-behavioral therapy appears effective in reducing the impact of symptoms on daily functioning as well as the stress associated with hot flashes.
“Clinical hypnosis is the first behavioral intervention to achieve objective and significant reductions in hot flashes,”
says lead author Dr. Vanessa Muniz of Baylor University. “This suggests that hypnosis may act through mechanisms beyond a placebo effect, potentially altering the activity of the hypothalamus.”
-New research should explore the neurophysiological mechanisms of hypnosis and adapt this intervention to the individual characteristics of each patient for optimized results in the management of hot flashes, “one of the most common annoying symptoms of menopause”.
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