Introduction: Hypnosis is increasingly recognized as an effective complementary therapy in medical care, particularly for chronic pain management and mental health. Interest in hypnosis research has grown significantly over the past century, driven by the need for scientific evidence in clinical interventions. The primary aim of this study is to explore publication trends related to hypnosis from 1900 to 2024 through an electronic search, analyzing articles to understand its diverse applications in medical care, as well as to analyze publication trends, prominent journals, frequently cited authors, and collaboration patterns among researchers. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 3,609 articles retrieved from the PubMed database, followed by a narrative review of emerging themes. Tools like VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze publication trends, prominent journals, frequently cited authors, and collaboration patterns among researchers. Keyword relationships were mapped to uncover thematic clusters. Results: The VOSviewer network visualization of keywords related to hypnosis identified six key thematic clusters, illustrating its diverse applications in health and wellness. One cluster focuses on pain management, particularly in chronic pain and anesthesia. Another addresses mental health, specifically anxiety and psychological distress. Additional clusters include behavioral change, complementary therapies like guided imagery, supportive oncology care, and various medical conditions through hypnotherapy. Hypnosis also shows promise in medical and disaster settings for alleviating trauma-related symptoms and managing acute stress responses. Together, these clusters highlight hypnosis’s broad, interdisciplinary therapeutic potential. Conclusion: This study provided a comprehensive overview of the role of hypnosis in medical care, highlighting diverse research areas from experimental foundations to clinical applications. The findings aimed to inform future research and clinical practices, facilitating the integration of hypnosis into medical settings and potentially enhancing patient outcomes in pain management, psychological disorders, and psychological support.
Makhmudah et al. (Sun,) studied this question.