The Role of Hypnotizability in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy

Pregnant women with symptoms of nausea and vomiting were interviewed and tested for hypnotizability with the Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale. Those women (n = 17) with symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization were significantly more hypnotizable than those with mild symptoms (n = 13). We hypothesize that the hypnotizability may play a role in the genesis of severe hyperemesis in pregnancy. Hypnotherapy is a readily available, safe, non-pharmacologic treatment and is a useful adjunct to basic psychologic support given for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.