Two studies show that a brief hypnosis program can be an effective intervention for smoking cessation with a certain percentage of people, and that even one session can be a help..

Researchers from Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center conducted a preliminary study of the efficacy of a 3-session hypnosis protocol for smoking cessation.

Thirty smokers enrolled in an HMO were referred by their primary physician for treatment. Twenty-one patients returned after an initial consultation and received hypnosis for smoking cessation.

At the end of treatment, 81% of these participants reported that they had stopped smoking, and 48% reported abstinence at 12 months posttreatment. Most (95%) reported that they were satisfied with the treatment they received. Recommendations for future research to empirically evaluate this hypnosis treatment are discussed.

Citation: Elkins GR, Rajab MH. Clinical hypnosis for smoking cessation: preliminary results of a three-session intervention. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2004 Jan; 52 (1):pp. 73-81. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Catherine Sykes and David Marks of Middlesex University in London, in an attempt to see what might reduce smoking among economically disadvantaged, heavy smokers, studied 260 smokers in this randomized, controlled clinical study. 131 subjects were randomly assigned to a cognitive behavioral program (called QFL, or Quit for Life), where they were taught in one hour how to be vigilant around their internal rationalizing to smoke, and to how use guided imagery, relaxation and meditation. After 7-10 days of smoking reduction, they quit and move into a 3-month relapse prevention program over 3 months time. Nicotine replacement therapy is optional (but not free), and was used by an insignificant minority of participants. Subjects are advised that quitting is not a matter of will power but of self-efficacy. 129 subjects were placed in the control condition, a program called SSME (Stopping Smoking Made Easier), which consists of a leaflet or audiotape telling people how to quit, offering facts and figures, and advice around picking a date to stop cold turkey, using will power, getting support from family and friends, arranging for a self-administered reward system after a successful first day, week and month; and to call the "Quitline" if further help is needed. Here too nicotine replacement therapy was optional, and again used only by a small minority of subjects. At the 6-month follow-up, 21 (17.2%) of the 122 participants receiving CBT and relaxation therapy were abstinent and 14 (11.5%) had reduced cigarette consumption by at least 25% of their pre-treatment level. On the other hand, only six (5.6%) of 107 participants in the control group were abstinent and none had reduced consumption. This was in spite of the fact that amount of contact with the program was the same, and use of nicotine replacement therapy was the same. The study concludes that cognitive behavioral and relaxation therapy is more effective than health education advice in helping smokers quit. Smokers need more than information; they need the skills and techniques to enable them to control the psychological processes that underly smoking.

Citation: Sykes, Catherine and Marks, David. Effectiveness of a cognitive behaviour therapy self-help programme for smokers in London, UK. Health Promotion International 2001 Sep;16(3):255-60.