Thesis, COLLÉGIALITÉ

Abstract

This graduation project is part of a larger project carried out in the GIGA Consciousness, at the University of Liege. The problematic of my thesis is the following: What is the influence of self- induced cognitive trance and hypnosis on cancer-related fatigue, sleep difficulties, and emotional distress in cancer patients who have completed their treatments? In oncology settings, there is a growing interest in so-called "complementary" methods, such as "mind- body" interventions, to relieve patient’s symptoms in a non-pharmacological manner. This controlled, longitudinal study aims to evaluate group interventions based on hypnosis, self- induced cognitive trance and meditation on four levels: clinical benefits, neurophysiological and phenomenological correlates and mechanisms of action, in comparison with a control group. In my dissertation, I will focus only on the clinical benefits of self-induced cognitive trance and hypnosis. Meditation will not be evaluated as the workshops will begin after my dissertation period. Neurophysiological and phenomenological data will not be analysable yet. Clinical benefits will be evaluated via standardized scales measuring fatigue (general, physical, mental, motivation and activity), sleep difficulties (insomnia) and emotional distress (anxiety and depression). Each patient will be evaluated before the self-induced cognitive trance or hypnosis intervention (T0), just after (T1) and then 3 months after (T2). Another assessment time is planned one year after the group intervention (T3), but is beyond the scope of this dissertation. In the hypnosis-based intervention, composed of groups of more or less 10 participants, patients will participate in 8 weekly sessions of 2 hours each during which they will benefit from guided hypnosis exercises and learn to implement self-hypnosis. The cognitive trance intervention will consist of two two-day workshops in groups of approximately 10 participants. The two workshops will be spaced 2 weeks apart. During these sessions, participants will learn how to induce cognitive trance. During both interventions, participants will be asked to practice hypnosis or cognitive trance as often as possible outside of the sessions, which will be assessed by short weekly questionnaires. A control group will also be recruited and will not participate in either intervention; they will be assessed at the same times and in the same way as the participants in the intervention groups. All responses to the various questionnaires will be subjected to statistical analysis. We hypothesize that self-induced cognitive trance and hypnosis will have positive effects on cancer patient's quality of life (in terms of fatigue, sleep difficulties, and emotional distress), and that these effects will persist 3 months after the intervention. We do not expect a significant improvement in the variables in the control group.