Clinical Study

Hypnosis in the Treatment of Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy
Giovanni Marchioro^a, Giuseppe Azzarello^b, Franco Viviani^c, Fiorenza Barbato^a, Michela Pavanetto^a, Francesco Rosetti^b, Giovanni L. Pappagallo^b, Orazio Vinante^b

Department of Oncology,
^aPsycho-Oncology Section and
^bMedical Oncology Division, Local Health Unit No. 13, Noale, and
^cDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padua, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Oncology 2000;59:100-104 (DOI: 10.1159/000012144)

  Key Words

• Hypnosis
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Chemotherapy

  Abstract

Aims and Background: In addition to nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy treatment, cancer patients can experience these side effects prior to a treatment session, the so-called anticipatory nausea and vomiting. As various psychological and neurophysiological aspects have been claimed to be implied in its etiopathogenesis, the present paper aims to shortly review the etiological, epidemiological and therapeutical assumptions on the topic, in particular the psychological-behavioral therapies. Patients and Methods: The present study was carried out on 16 consecutive adult cancer patients affected by chemotherapy-induced anticipatory nausea and vomiting who had received at least four treatment cycles. All of them were submitted to induction of relaxation followed by hypnosis. Results: In all subjects anticipatory nausea and vomiting disappeared, and major responses to chemotherapy-induced emesis control were recorded in almost all patients. Conclusions: The experience highlights the potential value of hypnosis in the management of anticipatory nausea and vomiting; furthermore, the susceptibility to anticipatory nausea and vomiting is discussed under the psychoanalytic point of view.

Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Orazio Vinante
Dipartimento di Oncologia
L.go S. Giorgio, 3
I-30033 Noale (Italy)
Tel. +39 041 5896221, Fax +39 041 5896259, E-Mail oncnoale@tin.it

  Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 46