Trial Information

Hypnosis for Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors

OBJECTIVES:

- Determine the efficacy of hypnosis in controlling hot flashes in women who are breast
cancer survivors.

- Determine the extent to which hypnotizability is related to the success of the
hypnotherapy intervention.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, controlled study. Patients are stratified according to age,
gender, race, and educational background. All patients complete a Hot Flash Daily Diary to
record frequency and severity of hot flashes for 1 week. Patients are then randomized to 1
of 2 treatment arms.

- Arm I (hypnotherapy): Patients undergo hypnotherapy once a week for 5 weeks. Patients
complete the Hot Flash-Related Daily Interference Scale, the Hospital Depression and
Anxiety Sub-scale, the CES Depression Scale, and the MOS-Sleep and Sexual Function
Scales in week 5 after the last hypnotherapy intervention. Patients also complete
another Hot Flash Daily Diary for 1 week in week 6 and are administered the Stanford
Hypnotic Clinical Scale in week 7.

- Arm II (control): Patients receive no contact for 4 weeks. Patients complete the
questionnaires as in arm I in week 5. Patients also complete another Hot Flash Daily
Diary for 1 week in week 6 and are administered the Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale in
week 7.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 60 patients will be accrued for this study.