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Why Choose Hypnosis to Help You Quit Smoking??
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Because multiple-session hypnotherapy has been shown to be BY FAR the most effective quitting strategy. Success rates of those using multiple-session hypnosis to quit are as much as 10 times the success rates of those who try to quit without any tools or resources.
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Many medical professionals are even impressed with the results of single-session hypnosis. In the words of Dr. Robert T. London from 2003, "Smoking cessation is an area in which hypnosis has been particularly effective. A study by Dr. Joseph Barber of the University of Washington, Seattle, for example, found that hypnotic intervention can be integrated into a treatment protocol for smoking cessation. Of 43 patients who were undergoing the protocol, 39 reported staying abstinent at follow-up, which was 6 months to 3 years after the treatment ended."1
Here's some of the research:
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Studies show that of those who try to quit smoking alone without any additional help or support (hypnosis or otherwise), the success rate is very low. Only between 2-5% of those who try are successful after 12 months, with most failing in the first 2-3 weeks. 2
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On the other hand, those engaging in a behavior modification program, nicotine replacement, or a Zyban medication approach alone average about a 25% success rate and up to a 50% success rate when used in some combination with each other after a 12-month period. 3
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An examination of multiple research studies show that a single session hypnosis treatment to stop smoking produced about a 25% success rate, whereas about 66% of those engaging in at least 4-5 sessions of hypnosis quit smoking and stayed non-smokers after a 6-12 month period.3
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A new study presented October 22, 2007 at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians found that hypnosis was more than twice as effective as quitting "cold turkey," and over three times as effective as nicotine replacement therapy. The study compared four smoking cessation programs used by former hospital patients who were motivated to quit. 50% of patients using hypnosis quit successfully after only one hypnosis session with recorded sessions for follow-up, while only 15.78% of those using nicotine replacement quit successfully.7 See blue graph above. Success rates were measured at 26 weeks. Dr. Faysal Hasan, one of the authors of the study, said,"Our results showed that hypnotherapy resulted in higher quit rates compared with NRT alone. Hypnotherapy appears to be quite effective and a good modality to incorporate into a smoking cessation program after hospital discharge."
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Dr. Robert T. London (2003). "Hypnosis: underused technique." Clinical Psychiatry News, Oct 2003 v31 i10 p8, citing study by Joseph Barber, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnnosis, 49[3]:257-66, 2001.
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Fiske, S. (2003). "Butt out: Quit smoking." Psychology Today, electronic version. Mar/Apr, 1-2.
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Hammond, D.C. (1990). Handbook of hypnotic suggestions and metaphors. New York: W. W. Norton. This book cites the three studies listed below (studies 4, 5, and 6).
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Nuland, W. and Field, P.B. (1970). "Smoking and hypnosis: A systematic clinical approach." International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, 18, 290-306. 60% success rate with a 4-session approach.
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Crasilneck, H.B., & Hall, J.A. (1985). Clinical hypnosis: Principles and Applications (Second Edition). Orlando, Florida: Grune & Stratton. 64% success rate with a 4-session approach.
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Watkins, H.H. (1976). "Hypnosis and smoking: A five-session approach." International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 24 (4), 381-390. 67% success rate with a 5-session approach.
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Hasan, Faysal, et. al. "Hypnotherapy as an Aid to Smoking Cessation of Hospitalized patients: Preliminary Results." Presented October 22, 2007 at CHEST 2007, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. 50% success rate with a single-session approach plus recorded followup.
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