Treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum by hypnosis

Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints in the first trimester of pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum presents a unique challenge to the obstetrician trained in medical hypnosis. Between the years 1965–1977, 138 women suffering from extremely severe vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy were successfully treated by medical hypnosis. 87 patients were treated in groups and 51 received individual therapy. The results with patients in group hypnotherapy were markedly better than those with patients in individual hypnotherapy. With group hypnotherapy, hospitalization was not necessary; treatement was given to a number of patients simultaneously and the women felt safer and less lonely. The common motivation of the patients consolidated the psychptherapeutic effect. This made treatment easier and more efficient.