HYPNOSIS can significantly increase comfort and adherence to non-invasive ventilation masks in patients with acute respiratory failure, according to a pilot study presented at the European Emergency Medicine (EUSEM) Congress 2025.
Hypnosis enhances mask comfort and adherence
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a critical treatment for acute respiratory failure, helping patients maintain oxygenation and remove carbon dioxide. However, many patients struggle with tight-fitting masks, often requiring sedation or anti-anxiety medication. In a prospective pilot study at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat, Morocco, 20 patients were randomised to standard NIV care or NIV combined with a hypnosis session. The hypnosis protocol included calming induction, breathing synchronisation, visual imagery, deepening to reduce anxiety, and therapeutic suggestions designed to increase cooperation and trust during mask use.
Clinical impact of hypnosis on outcomes
Eight out of ten patients (80%) in the hypnosis group completed NIV without sedation or switching to invasive ventilation, compared with five out of ten (50%) in the control group. Hypnosis patients reported higher comfort scores (7.5 versus 4.3), lower agitation and respiratory distress, and reduced need for anti-anxiety medication. Blood gas analyses after four hours demonstrated improved clinical outcomes, including greater reductions in carbon dioxide and normalisation of pH, highlighting both the safety and efficacy of hypnosis as a supportive intervention during NIV.
Hypnosis as a non-pharmacological tool
Tobi Hamza, lead researcher, emphasised that hypnosis offers a low-cost, drug-free method to support patient tolerance and clinical effectiveness. “Our findings suggest hypnosis could become a key adjunct in emergency respiratory care, reducing patient distress and hospital burden,” he said.
The study’s limitations include its small sample size, single-centre design, lack of blinding, and reliance on a trained hypnosis practitioner. Patients in extreme emergencies or with confusion were excluded. Despite these constraints, the pilot provides strong evidence to justify larger multi-centre trials assessing hypnosis effects on hospital stay, intubation rates, and longer-term outcomes.
Reference
Hamza T et al. Hypnosis to improve tolerance and efficacy of non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure: a prospective controlled study. Abstract OA019. European Emergency Medicine Congress, 28 September-1 October, 2025.
