Two studies show that a brief hypnosis program can be an effective intervention for smoking cessation with a certain percentage of people, and that even one session can be a help..

Researchers from Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center conducted a preliminary study of the efficacy of a 3-session hypnosis protocol for smoking cessation.

Thirty smokers enrolled in an HMO were referred by their primary physician for treatment. Twenty-one patients returned after an initial consultation and received hypnosis for smoking cessation.

At the end of treatment, 81% of these participants reported that they had stopped smoking, and 48% reported abstinence at 12 months posttreatment. Most (95%) reported that they were satisfied with the treatment they received. Recommendations for future research to empirically evaluate this hypnosis treatment are discussed.

Citation: Elkins GR, Rajab MH. Clinical hypnosis for smoking cessation: preliminary results of a three-session intervention. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2004 Jan; 52 (1):pp. 73-81. [email protected]

Researchers at Ohio State University’s College of Nursing conducted a study of 2,810 randomly selected smokers who participated in single-session, group hypnotherapy smoking cessation programs sponsored by the American Lung Association of Ohio.

Five to fifteen months after attending their treatment session, a randomly selected sample of 452 participants were interviewed, revealing that twenty-two percent of participants (n = 101) reported not smoking during the month prior to the interview.

In addition, use of other smoking cessation strategies since the treatment session were assessed. Interestingly, only 20% of participants who used pharmaceutical products to assist with smoking cessation took them for the recommended treatment duration.

The study concludes that hypnotherapy is a viable alternative smoking cessation treatment for some smokers.

Citation: Ahijevych K, Yerardi R, Nedilsky N. Descriptive outcomes of the American Lung Association of Ohio hypnotherapy smoking cessation program. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2000 Oct; 48 (4): pp. 374-87. [email protected]