A Pilot Study Using Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for Hospitalized Patients
1 other identifier
interventional
26
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The purpose of the study is to compare the effectiveness of recorded gut-directed hypnosis to an educational recording in people with chronic problems in their gastrointestinal (GI) system. Patients who are hospitalized at Stanford Hospital for worsening pain and/or nausea will be considered for enrollment.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Jul 2026
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
June 23, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 30, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
July 1, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 1, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
July 1, 2028
June 30, 2026
June 1, 2026
1 year
June 23, 2026
June 23, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (3)
Recruitment rate
Recruitment rate is the proportion enrolled among eligible patients approached.
Up to 1 year.
Number of participants who adhered to intervention
Proportion of participants completing ≥1 hypnosis session during hospitalization and total number of listens
3 months.
Retention rate
Retention rate is defined as survey completion at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.
3 months.
Study Arms (2)
Hypnosis
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will undergo gut-directed hypnotherapy via a phone intervention (10 minute recording, at least once daily while hospitalized) and for as much as participant would like for the 3 month duration of the study.
Education
SHAM COMPARATORParticipants will listen to educational recording (10 minute recording, at least once daily while hospitalized) and for as much as participant would like for the 3 month duration of the study.
Interventions
Participants will undergo a self-directed gut-directed hypnosis intervention over the telephone.
Participants will listen to educational material over the telephone about their gastrointestinal symptoms.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adults admitted to the GI inpatient service with expected length of stay \>24 hours
- Prior diagnosis of a disorder of gut-brain interaction, esophageal disorder, or inflammatory bowel disease
- Reason for hospitalization related to symptom management for exacerbation of visceral pain and/or nausea.
You may not qualify if:
- Currently using hypnosis
- severe developmental delay or cognitive impairment
- serious mental illness (i.e. psychosis or dissociation)
- hearing impairment
- Non-English speaking
- enrolled in another trial for GI symptom management
- admitted for GI procedure
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Stanford Universitylead
- American College of Gastroenterologycollaborator
Study Sites (1)
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Irene Sonu, MD
Stanford University
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Clinical Associate Professor in Medicine
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
June 23, 2026
First Posted
June 30, 2026
Study Start
July 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
July 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
July 1, 2028
Last Updated
June 30, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-06
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share