Hypnotic suggestibility as a moderator of treatment response in mild to moderate depression: an exploratory secondary analysis

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This study analyzed whether baseline hypnotic suggestibility influenced treatment outcomes in patients with mild to moderate depression.
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Participants were randomized into three groups: group hypnosis, progressive muscle relaxation, or control, with 94 individuals included in the analysis.
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Baseline suggestibility was measured using the Harvard Group Scale and the Creative Imagination Scale, with no significant associations found.
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Results indicated that hypnotic suggestibility did not moderate changes in depressive symptoms across the treatment groups.
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The study concluded that findings are preliminary due to limited statistical power, highlighting the need for larger studies.

Frontiers In Medicine

by Julia Siewert, Benno Brinkhaus, Tatjana Tissen-Diabaté, Michael Teut, Nicolas Volz
July 2, 2026

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