Hypnosis to improve well-being after an ICU stay

Hypnosis to Improve Well-beings of Critically Ill Patients and Prevent Post-intensive Care Syndrome

Not applicable Interventional University Hospital, Geneva · NCT07254299

This trial will test whether short hypnosis sessions given at ICU discharge and again 7 and 14 days later help ICU survivors feel better by day 28.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment150 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Geneva Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Geneva and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07254299 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Critically ill adults who were mechanically ventilated for at least two days and can give consent are randomly assigned to receive either standard post-ICU care or standard care plus three brief hypnosis sessions (at ICU discharge, day 7, and day 14 if still hospitalized). The main outcome is patient-reported well-being measured at 28 days after ICU discharge. Patients with delirium, reduced consciousness, traumatic brain injury, planned withdrawal of care, or non-French speakers are excluded. The trial is conducted at tertiary hospitals in Geneva and Neuchâtel using standardized hypnosis protocols delivered by trained staff.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are French-speaking adult ICU survivors who were mechanically ventilated for at least two days, are lucid (GCS 15), not delirious at discharge, and able to provide informed consent.

Not a fit: Patients who are non-French-speaking, have ongoing delirium or lowered consciousness, traumatic brain injury, planned withdrawal of care, or very prolonged ICU stays are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, hypnosis could offer a low-risk, non-drug way to improve short-term well-being after ICU and potentially reduce components of post-intensive care syndrome.

How similar studies have performed: Small studies in burn care and non-invasive ventilation have shown hypnosis can reduce pain and anxiety and improve comfort, but using hypnosis specifically to prevent post-intensive care syndrome is relatively novel and less well tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* On Mechanical Ventilation for at least 2 days
* Able to give informed consent as documented by signature
* French speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

* Refusal of the patient
* Patient transferred from another ICU
* Patient is planned for a withdrawal of care or is actively dying
* Glasgow coma scale (GCS) \<15 on ICU discharge
* Patient presenting with delirium (detected by CAM-ICU) on ICU discharge
* Patient hospitalized for traumatic brain injury
* Patient is in jail
* Patient hospitalized for more than 28 days in the ICU

Where this trial is running

Geneva and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Post Intensive Care Syndromepost intensive care syndromerandomized controlled trailhypnosis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.