Cool Study
Original Contribution

The American Journal of Gastroenterology (2008) 103, 1460–1469;
doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2008.01845.x

The Effect of Hypnosis on Systemic and Rectal Mucosal Measures of Inflammation
in Ulcerative Colitis

Joel E Mawdsley MD1, David G Jenkins MD1, Marion G Macey PhD2, Louise Langmead
MD3 and David S Rampton PhD1

1Centre for Gastroenterology, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and
the London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
2Department of Haematology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, United
Kingdom
3Department of Gastroenterology, University College London Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
Correspondence: David S. Rampton, Endoscopy Unit, Royal London Hospital, London
E1 1BB, United Kingdom.

Received 18 March 2007; Accepted 4 December 2007.

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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Hypnotherapy is effective in several diseases with a psychosomatic
component. Our aim was to study the effects of one session of hypnosis on the
systemic and rectal mucosal inflammatory responses in patients with active
ulcerative colitis (UC).
METHODS: In total, 17 patients with active UC underwent a 50-min session of
gut-focused hypnotherapy. Before and after each procedure, the systemic
inflammatory response was assessed by serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-13
concentrations, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) and IL-6 production by
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole blood, leukocyte count, natural killer
(NK) cell number, platelet activation, and platelet–leukocyte aggregate
formation. Rectal inflammation was assessed by mucosal release of substance P
(SP), histamine, IL-13 and TNF-, reactive oxygen metabolite production, and
mucosal blood flow. Eight patients with active UC underwent a control procedure.
RESULTS: Hypnosis decreased pulse by a median 7 beats per minute (bpm) (P=
0.0008); it also reduced the median serum IL-6 concentration by 53% (P= 0.001),
but had no effect on the other systemic variables assessed. Hypnosis reduced
rectal mucosal release of SP by a median 81% (P= 0.001), histamine by 35% (P=
0.002) and IL-13 by 53% (P= 0.003), and also, blood flow by 18% (P= 0.0004). The
control protocol had no effect on any of the variables assessed.
CONCLUSIONS: Hypnosis reduced several components of the systemic and mucosal
inflammatory response in active ulcerative colitis toward levels found
previously in the inactive disease. Some of these effects may contribute to the
anecdotally reported benefits of hypnotherapy and provide a rationale for
controlled trials of hypnotherapy in UC.



Seth-Deborah Roth CRNA,CCHt,CI
www.hypnotherapyforhealth.com
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