Hypnosis and Attention in Patients With a Neurological Disease (Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis)

NCT ID: NCT07256704

Last Updated: 2025-12-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 48 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-11-18
• Study Completion Date: 2029-07-31

Brief Summary

This feasibility study investigates the potential of hypnosis as a complementary therapy to improve attentional deficits and fatigue in patients with neurological diseases such as stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple sclerosis (MS). These patients often experience reduced spontaneous visual exploration and impaired functional independence despite current rehabilitation methods. By integrating hypnosis with standard care, and using EEG to monitor brain activity during hypnosis and sham-hypnosis sessions, this trial aims to evaluate the practicality, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of hypnosis in enhancing attention and reducing fatigue.

Detailed Description

Neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently cause significant impairments in attentional abilities. Commonly accompanying symptoms include visual spatial neglect (VSN) and fatigue syndrome, which exacerbate attentional deficits. These impairments manifest notably as a reduction in spontaneous or free visual exploration (FVE), limiting patients' ability to actively scan and engage with their environment. This diminished visual exploration negatively impacts their capacity to navigate daily surroundings, compromising functional independence and overall quality of life (Chiaravalloti & DeLuca, 2008; Dillon et al., 2022; Huang et al., 2022).

Current therapeutic approaches include cognitive rehabilitation, visual exploration training, and non-invasive brain stimulation to promote neuroplasticity and functional recovery (Alashram AR, 2024; Liu-Ambrose et al., 2022; Rayegani et al., 2024; Bode et al., 2023; Lefaucheur et al., 2020). Additionally, management of fatigue focuses on energy regulation strategies in everyday life (Hersche et al., 2019). Despite these interventions, many patients continue to experience persistent attentional deficits and fatigue after rehabilitation, limiting their ability to perform daily activities and return to previous roles.

Hypnosis is emerging as a promising adjunct therapy in neurological rehabilitation. Widely used in medical fields such as pain management and mental health, hypnosis leverages the brain's ability to enter a state of focused attention and heightened cognitive receptivity, facilitating symptom relief and treatment enhancement without pharmacological side effects (Montgomery et al., 2002; Ogez et al., 2024; Rosendahl et al., 2023; Valentine et al., 2019). Preliminary evidence suggests hypnosis can improve attentional control and reduce fatigue in neurological populations (Gilbert et al., 2006; Jensen et al., 2025).

However, research on hypnosis in neurology remains limited, with a need for larger, rigorously controlled studies to confirm its efficacy and understand underlying mechanisms. This feasibility study aims to assess the practicality and acceptability of using hypnosis to treat attentional deficits and fatigue in patients with stroke, TBI, and MS, while also evaluating preliminary efficacy.

A key aspect of this study involves recording electroencephalography (EEG) during both hypnosis and sham-hypnosis sessions. EEG data will provide insight into neural correlates of attentional processing and determine whether hypnosis induces measurable changes in brain activity relative to sham conditions.

Conditions

Stroke; Traumatic Brain Injury; Multiple Sclerosis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Intervention

Hypnosis Intervention

Participants receive hypnosis sessions designed to improve attention and reduce fatigue.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Hypnosis

Intervention Type: OTHER

Hypnosis sessions designed to improve attentional control and reduce fatigue in patients with neurological conditions (stroke, TBI, MS). The intervention involves guided hypnotic induction and suggestions tailored to enhance cognitive focus and energy management.

Control

Sham Hypnosis Control

Participants receive sham hypnosis sessions serving as a control condition.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Hypnosis

Intervention Type: OTHER

Hypnosis sessions designed to improve attentional control and reduce fatigue in patients with neurological conditions (stroke, TBI, MS). The intervention involves guided hypnotic induction and suggestions tailored to enhance cognitive focus and energy management.

Interventions

Hypnosis

Hypnosis sessions designed to improve attentional control and reduce fatigue in patients with neurological conditions (stroke, TBI, MS). The intervention involves guided hypnotic induction and suggestions tailored to enhance cognitive focus and energy management.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

ICD-10 Diagnosis of stroke, TBI or MS Admitted to the inpatient and/or outpatient in the Clinic for Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Age 18 years old or older Understanding the German language Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Psychiatric disease

Scalp or skin conditions that interfere with EEG electrode placement (e.g. open wounds, infections, severe psoriasis) Implanted medical or neurostimulation devices that interfere with EEG electrode placement (e.g. deep brain stimulators, cochlear implants)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Luzerner Kantonsspital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Luzerner Kantonsspital

Lucerne, , Switzerland

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Switzerland

Central Contacts

Thomas Nyffeler, Prof. Dr. med.

Role: CONTACT

thomas.nyffeler@luks.ch

+41412055686

Facility Contacts

Beatrice Ottiger, MSc OT

Role: primary

beatrice.ottiger@luks.ch

+41412055535

References

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 19234967 (View on PubMed)

Diamond, S. G., Davis, O. C., Schaechter, J. D., & Howe, R. D. (2006). Hypnosis for rehabilitation after stroke: six case studies. Contemporary hypnosis, 23(4), 173-180.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Valentine KE, Milling LS, Clark LJ, Moriarty CL. THE EFFICACY OF HYPNOSIS AS A TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY: A META-ANALYSIS. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2019 Jul-Sep;67(3):336-363. doi: 10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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PMID: 38268815 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Other Identifiers

2025-01374

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id