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The Effects of Hypnotherapy on Cognitive Flexibility, Rumination and Stigma in Alzheimer's Patients: A Quasi‐Experimental Study.

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Title: The Effects of Hypnotherapy on Cognitive Flexibility, Rumination and Stigma in Alzheimer's Patients: A Quasi‐Experimental Study.
Authors: Homayoon, Mohammadreza Noroozi (AUTHOR), Damirchi, Esmaeil Sadri (AUTHOR), Lester, David (AUTHOR)
Source: Counselling & Psychotherapy Research. Jun2026, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p1-10. 10p.
Subjects: Alzheimer's disease treatment, Repeated measures design, Effect sizes (Statistics), Independent living, T-test (Statistics), Data analysis, Clinical trials, Executive function, Rumination (Cognition), Treatment effectiveness, Judgment sampling, Chi-squared test, Descriptive statistics, Control groups, Pre-tests & post-tests, Hypnotism, Research methodology, Analysis of variance, Statistics, Psychological tests, Comparative studies, Data analysis software, Cognitive flexibility, Social stigma, Evaluation, Old age
Geographic Terms: Iran
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive‐behavioural hypnotherapy (CBH) on improving cognitive flexibility, reducing rumination and alleviating perceived stigma in elderly individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Ardabil, Iran. Methods: In a quasi‐experimental design with pre‐test and post‐test measurements, 70 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were recruited from memory clinics and daycare centres in Ardabil, Iran. Participants were non‐randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 35), receiving 12 weekly sessions of cognitive‐behavioural hypnotherapy, or the control group (n = 35), receiving standard care. Outcomes were assessed using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) and the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness (SSCI‐8) at baseline and post‐intervention. Results: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive flexibility (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.57) compared to the control group. Additionally, significant reductions were observed in rumination (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.60) and perceived stigma (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.56) among participants who received hypnotherapy. In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes across any outcome measures. Large effect sizes (η2 > 0.50) indicated clinically meaningful improvements in all target variables. Conclusion: Cognitive‐behavioural hypnotherapy appears to be an effective non‐pharmacological intervention for enhancing cognitive flexibility and reducing both rumination and stigma in elderly individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. These findings suggest that hypnotherapy may contribute to improved psychological well‐being and adaptive functioning in this clinical population. However, given the quasi‐experimental nature of this study, future research employing randomised controlled trials with larger and more diverse samples, longer follow‐up periods and exploration of neurobiological mechanisms is warranted. Hypnotherapy should be considered as a complementary approach within comprehensive, multidisciplinary care models for Alzheimer's disease. Implications for Policy & Practice: The findings suggest that cognitive‐behavioral hypnotherapy should be integrated into standard dementia care protocols as a cost‐effective non‐pharmacological intervention. Policymakers should allocate resources for training mental health professionals in hypnotherapy techniques tailored for Alzheimer's patients. Healthcare systems at memory clinics and daycare centers can implement these programmes to enhance cognitive flexibility and reduce psychological distress. The reduction in stigma supports incorporating hypnotherapy into psychoeducational interventions that improve patients' quality of life and social engagement. Finally, these results advocate for including hypnotherapy in national dementia strategies, particularly in under‐resourced settings where accessible psychological interventions are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive‐behavioural hypnotherapy (CBH) on improving cognitive flexibility, reducing rumination and alleviating perceived stigma in elderly individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Ardabil, Iran. Methods: In a quasi‐experimental design with pre‐test and post‐test measurements, 70 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were recruited from memory clinics and daycare centres in Ardabil, Iran. Participants were non‐randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 35), receiving 12 weekly sessions of cognitive‐behavioural hypnotherapy, or the control group (n = 35), receiving standard care. Outcomes were assessed using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) and the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness (SSCI‐8) at baseline and post‐intervention. Results: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive flexibility (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.57) compared to the control group. Additionally, significant reductions were observed in rumination (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.60) and perceived stigma (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.56) among participants who received hypnotherapy. In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes across any outcome measures. Large effect sizes (η2 > 0.50) indicated clinically meaningful improvements in all target variables. Conclusion: Cognitive‐behavioural hypnotherapy appears to be an effective non‐pharmacological intervention for enhancing cognitive flexibility and reducing both rumination and stigma in elderly individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. These findings suggest that hypnotherapy may contribute to improved psychological well‐being and adaptive functioning in this clinical population. However, given the quasi‐experimental nature of this study, future research employing randomised controlled trials with larger and more diverse samples, longer follow‐up periods and exploration of neurobiological mechanisms is warranted. Hypnotherapy should be considered as a complementary approach within comprehensive, multidisciplinary care models for Alzheimer's disease. Implications for Policy & Practice: The findings suggest that cognitive‐behavioral hypnotherapy should be integrated into standard dementia care protocols as a cost‐effective non‐pharmacological intervention. Policymakers should allocate resources for training mental health professionals in hypnotherapy techniques tailored for Alzheimer's patients. Healthcare systems at memory clinics and daycare centers can implement these programmes to enhance cognitive flexibility and reduce psychological distress. The reduction in stigma supports incorporating hypnotherapy into psychoeducational interventions that improve patients' quality of life and social engagement. Finally, these results advocate for including hypnotherapy in national dementia strategies, particularly in under‐resourced settings where accessible psychological interventions are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:14733145
DOI:10.1002/capr.70119