Comparison of Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and CBT in PTSD: A Clinical Trial
NCT ID: NCT06761716
Last Updated: 2025-06-05
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
60 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-11-15
2025-04-15
Brief Summary
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The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does Ericksonian Hypnotherapy reduce PTSD symptoms as effectively as CBT? Do these therapies affect brain activity, skin conductance, and heart rate differently?
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two therapy groups:
Ericksonian Hypnotherapy Group: Weekly 50-minute sessions for 12 weeks. CBT Group: Weekly 50-minute sessions for 12 weeks. To assess physiological and emotional responses, researchers will measure brain activity (EEG), skin conductance (GSR), and heart rate (HR) at various points. These assessments include a guided discussion task where participants reflect on their trauma in a controlled therapeutic environment. This task allows researchers to evaluate emotional regulation and stress markers in real time.
This study aims to provide insight into the physiological and psychological impacts of both therapies on PTSD treatment, offering a deeper understanding of how these interventions influence neurophysiological stress responses.
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Detailed Description
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PTSD is a debilitating psychological condition triggered by exposure to traumatic events, characterized by symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, avoidance behaviors, and negative mood states. Both CBT and EH have shown promise in alleviating PTSD symptoms, yet their comparative neuropsychophysiological impacts remain underexplored.
Study Design Participants: Individuals aged 18-60 diagnosed with PTSD.
Randomization: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Ericksonian Hypnotherapy Group (EH): 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each, focusing on subconscious communication, personalized hypnotic suggestions, and trauma symptom alleviation.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group (CBT): 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each, utilizing structured cognitive restructuring, exposure exercises, and behavioral interventions.
Control Group: No therapeutic intervention will be provided. Participants will attend scheduled monitoring sessions for baseline and post-study assessments.
Assessment and Measurements
Neuropsychophysiological parameters will be assessed at two time points: pre-intervention (baseline) and post-intervention (after 12 weeks). Measurements will include:
Electroencephalography (EEG): To monitor brain activity patterns, focusing on prefrontal cortex activation and emotional regulation networks.
Galvanic Skin Response (GSR): To measure changes in autonomic nervous system activity and emotional arousal.
Heart Rate (HR): To evaluate cardiovascular responses and physiological stress markers.
Participants will also engage in a guided trauma discussion task during these assessments, where they reflect on their traumatic experiences in a controlled therapeutic environment. This task enhances the ecological validity of the neurophysiological data by eliciting real-time emotional and cognitive responses to trauma-related stimuli.
Psychological Scales: PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) will be used to assess symptom severity.
Study Objectives Primary Objective: Compare the effectiveness of EH and CBT in reducing PTSD symptom severity.
Secondary Objective: Evaluate differences in neuropsychophysiological responses (EEG, GSR, HR) between EH, CBT, and the control group.
Exploratory Objective: Determine if EH offers comparable or superior benefits to CBT in modulating neurophysiological and physiological stress markers.
Expected Outcomes Symptom Reduction: EH and CBT are hypothesized to significantly reduce PTSD symptoms compared to the control group.
Neurophysiological Differentiation: Differences in neurophysiological and physiological markers are expected between EH and CBT groups.
Minimal Control Improvement: The control group is expected to show minimal or no significant improvement in symptoms or physiological parameters.
This study aims to provide robust comparative data on the efficacy and neuropsychophysiological effects of EH and CBT in PTSD treatment, offering clinicians valuable insights into therapeutic decision-making. The findings will contribute to refining treatment protocols and advancing evidence-based mental health interventions.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (EH) Group: 12 weekly 50-minute sessions focusing on hypnotic suggestions for PTSD symptom relief.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Group: 12 weekly 50-minute sessions using cognitive and behavioral techniques for PTSD management.
Control Group: No therapeutic intervention; participants undergo baseline and post-study assessments only.
Primary Outcome: Reduction in PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5, BDI-II, BAI). Secondary Outcome: Changes in neurophysiological and physiological markers (EEG, GSR, HR).
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (EH) Arm
Participants will receive 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each, focusing on tailored hypnotic suggestions and subconscious communication techniques specifically designed to address PTSD symptoms.
Ericksonian Hypnotherapy
Participants in this group will receive 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each. The therapy will focus on tailored hypnotic suggestions, subconscious communication techniques, and trauma-focused interventions specifically designed to address PTSD symptoms. Sessions will be conducted by a certified hypnotherapist under clinical supervision.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Arm
Participants will receive 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each, utilizing cognitive restructuring, exposure exercises, and behavioral interventions to reduce PTSD symptoms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Participants in this group will receive 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each. The therapy will utilize cognitive restructuring techniques, exposure exercises, and behavioral interventions aimed at reducing PTSD symptoms. Sessions will be led by a licensed psychotherapist trained in trauma-focused CBT.
Control Group
Participants in the control group will not receive any therapeutic intervention. They will undergo baseline and post-study assessments using neuropsychophysiological measures (EEG, GSR, HR) and psychological scales (PCL-5, BDI-II, BAI) to monitor changes over time without active treatment.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Ericksonian Hypnotherapy
Participants in this group will receive 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each. The therapy will focus on tailored hypnotic suggestions, subconscious communication techniques, and trauma-focused interventions specifically designed to address PTSD symptoms. Sessions will be conducted by a certified hypnotherapist under clinical supervision.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Participants in this group will receive 12 weekly sessions of 50 minutes each. The therapy will utilize cognitive restructuring techniques, exposure exercises, and behavioral interventions aimed at reducing PTSD symptoms. Sessions will be led by a licensed psychotherapist trained in trauma-focused CBT.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
Ability to attend all therapy sessions and assessments. Ability to provide written informed consent. No neurological disorders or cognitive impairments that could affect participation.
Exclusion Criteria
Acute risk of harm from engaging in trauma discussions. Use of psychiatric medication within the last 3 months. Ongoing participation in other psychotherapeutic interventions. History of substance abuse or dependence in the past 12 months. Known neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic brain injury). Inability to provide informed consent or comply with study procedures. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Severe cardiovascular conditions that might interfere with physiological assessments.
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Uskudar University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Selami Varol Ülker
Director
Principal Investigators
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Selami Varol Ülker, Phd
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Üsküdar University
Metin Çınaroğlu, Phd
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Istanbul Nisantasi University
Eda Yılmazer, Phd
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Beykoz University
Gökben Hızlı Sayar, Prof
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
Üsküdar University
Locations
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Üsküdar University
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
Countries
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Other Identifiers
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61351342/020-395
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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