Hypnosis before breast surgery showed benefits for fatigue and distress
This abstract-based trial summary finds selective symptom improvements over mindfulness, with no statistically significant difference in pain, nausea or discomfort.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Compared with mindfulness, preoperative hypnosis reduced reported fatigue and emotional distress after breast cancer surgery. It did not show statistically significant differences in pain, nausea or discomfort. These results concern immediate postoperative symptoms in this surgical population; they do not establish a broad benefit across all symptoms or show whether any advantage persists during recovery.
Symptoms were measured on the surgery day. The abstract does not report later follow-up, so it cannot establish a lasting improvement or describe recovery beyond that immediate period.
What researchers found
Lower postoperative fatigue with hypnosis
Versus mindfulness, measured on a 100-mm visual scale on the surgery day after recovery from anesthesia.
An active comparison
Both groups received a brief psychological intervention before surgery. That active comparison tests hypnosis against mindfulness, so the trial does not directly tell us how either approach compares with receiving no such session.
Other reported outcomes
Postoperative fentanyl use was also lower in the hypnosis group. No adverse events were attributed to either intervention, but the abstract gives no detailed safety analysis or evidence about longer-term symptom trajectories.
The original publication
Preoperative Hypnosis versus Mindfulness for Reducing Postoperative Symptoms in Breast Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Reme SE, Munk A, Montgomery GH et al.
Anesthesiology · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41203018
- Record checked
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