CLINICAL HYPNOSIS INTERVENTION FOR ANESTHESIOLOGICAL NEEDLE-RELATED PROCEDURAL PAIN AND DISTRESS IN PATIENTS

The mind, emotions and attention play an important role in the experience of pain and distress during anesthesiological procedures. It is essential to minimize patients’ anxiety, pain and distress during procedures. This study examined the effect of using clinical hypnosis during anesthesiological and needle-related procedures, such as venous puncture or a subcutaneous venous port access, on reported pain, anxiety or distress of patients. Mind-body approaches include progressive muscle relaxation, different hypnosis stages and guided imagery. Studies have shown that mind-body approaches can be effective in various conditions associated with pain and anxiety. RESULTS Self-reported and observed pain, anxiety and distress scores were low during clinical hypnosis. Progressive muscle relaxation, different hypnosis stages and guided imagery during the procedures distracted and relived anxiety and pain of patients. CONCLUSION The interviews showed that clinical hypnosis is a positive experience to reduce anxiety and distress for patients undergoing anesthesiological procedures such as venous puncture or a subcutaneous venous port access.