Hypnosis helps women cope with breast biopsy

Dr. Lang attributed the shortened procedure time to the decreased level of stress, not only for the patient, but for the treatment team. The relaxation technique serves to calm and focus everyone involved in the procedure, she noted.

“The findings show that nonpharmacologic means can be very powerful—without side effects,” Dr. Lang said. “The results extend prior assumptions about mind-body interventions in that self-hypnotic relaxation can be learned very quickly right on the procedure table without additional cost, challenging the notion that extensive office visits or preparation are necessary.”

In addition, through the self-hypnotic relaxation coaching of the research assistant, the patients learned a coping tool that they could take with them and use to relieve anxiety through subsequent waits and work-ups.

“This research embraces a holistic approach combining ‘high-tech’ with ‘high-touch’ that respects the needs of women during the stressful times of breast biopsy,” Dr. Lang said. She added that this method has been successfully applied to a number of other interventional procedures.

This study was supported by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Co-authors are Kevin S. Berbaum, Ph.D., Salomao Faintuch, M.D., Noami Halsey, B.S., Eleanor D. Laser, Ph.D., Janet K. Baum, M.D., Michael Berbaum, Ph.D., X. Li, M.S., Olga C. Hatsiopoulou, M.D., et al.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2006 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press06 beginning Monday, Nov. 27.

RSNA is an association of more than 40,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to promoting excellence in radiology through education and by fostering research, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill.

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