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Recruiting NCT06811311

EEG Study on Neurophysiological and Psychological Effects of Ericksonian Hypnotherapy in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

No phase Interventional Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Anxiety Disorders Psychophysiological Disorders Stress-Related Disorders

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Ericksonian Hypnotherapy.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Anxiety Disorders, Psychophysiological Disorders, Stress-Related Disorders. Basic parameters: 18 years — 65 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Turkey (Türkiye)
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

Neurophysiological and Psychological Effects of Ericksonian Hypnotherapy on Generalized Anxiety Disorder: An EEG-Based Clinical Study

Overview

This study examines the neurophysiological and psychological effects of Ericksonian hypnotherapy in individuals diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Using electroencephalography (EEG), the study aims to assess changes in brain activity and anxiety symptoms before and after treatment. A total of 60 participants will be recruited from both governmental and private psychiatric clinics in Istanbul. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (receiving 12 Ericksonian hypnotherapy sessions over 12 weeks) or the control group (receiving no intervention). The primary outcome measures include changes in EEG patterns, specifically alpha, theta, and frontal asymmetry indices, and changes in anxiety severity, measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Secondary measures include emotional regulation (DERS) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). This study aims to provide scientific evidence on the effectiveness of Ericksonian hypnotherapy as a complementary treatment for GAD and its impact on brain function and emotional well-being.

Detailed description

This study investigates the neurophysiological and psychological effects of Ericksonian hypnotherapy in individuals diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) using electroencephalography (EEG). The research aims to determine whether Ericksonian hypnotherapy produces measurable changes in brain activity and anxiety symptoms.

A total of 60 participants (30 per group) will be recruited from both governmental and private psychiatric clinics in Istanbul. Participants will be diagnosed with GAD based on DSM-5 criteria and will undergo structured psychiatric evaluation before inclusion.

Study Design Intervention Group (n = 30): Participants will receive 12 individual Ericksonian hypnotherapy sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, delivered over 12 weeks. The hypnotherapy protocol will include permissive language, metaphorical storytelling, and indirect suggestions tailored to anxiety-related cognitive and emotional patterns.

Control Group (n = 30): Participants will receive no psychological intervention during the study period.

Both groups will undergo baseline and post-intervention EEG measurements and complete psychological assessments.

Primary Outcome Measures:

EEG Changes: Resting-state and task-based EEG recordings will be analyzed for alpha, theta power, frontal asymmetry indices, and event-related potentials (ERPs: P300, N200) to assess neurophysiological effects of hypnotherapy.

Anxiety Severity: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) will be used to measure anxiety symptom changes.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Emotional Regulation: Measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).

Quality of Life: Evaluated with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF).

Timeline:

Recruitment Period: February 1, 2025 - March 15, 2025 Baseline Assessments: March 2025 Intervention Period: April 1, 2025 - June 2025 Post-Intervention Assessments: July 2025 This study aims to provide scientific evidence on the efficacy of Ericksonian hypnotherapy as a complementary treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder by evaluating both neurophysiological and psychological changes. Findings may contribute to the development of alternative therapeutic approaches for anxiety disorders.

Interventions

  • Behavioral Ericksonian Hypnotherapy
    Ericksonian hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes indirect suggestion, storytelling, and metaphorical language to induce a trance state and facilitate psychological change. This intervention aims to reduce anxiety symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and alter neurophysiological responses as measured by EEG. Participants will undergo 12 individual sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, over a period of 12 weeks.

Primary outcome measures

  • EEG Changes in Brain Activity [Time frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention) and Post-intervention (12 weeks)]
  • Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) [Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (12 weeks)]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
  • Generalized Anxiety Severity (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7) [Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (12 weeks)]
  • State and Trait Anxiety Levels (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI) [Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (12 weeks)]
  • Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, (DERS) [Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (12 weeks)]
  • World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, (WHOQOL-BREF) [Time frame: Baseline and Post-intervention (12 weeks)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) based on DSM-5 criteria
  • Aged 18-65 years
  • Capable of providing written informed consent
  • Fluent in Turkish (for hypnosis and assessments)
  • Not currently receiving psychotherapy or pharmacological treatment for anxiety

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression requiring immediate intervention)
  • History of neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke)
  • Current use of medications affecting EEG activity (e.g., benzodiazepines, SSRIs, antipsychotics)
  • Previous experience with hypnotherapy (to avoid expectancy bias)
  • Substance abuse or dependence within the last six months
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Severe medical conditions that may interfere with participation

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Non-randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
  • Üsküdar University, Neuro-Psychology Lab — Istanbul

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06811311 · Uskudar University EEG

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗