StressHypnosisNCT06778109
Manage Your Workingnegative Thoughts Through Hypnosis
A study testing Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memory in people with Stress and Stress Disorders, run by University of Padova at 2 sites in Italy.
Trial summary
Medical doctor generally are exposed to several risks and pressures, it is not a case that several meta-analyses have shown high stress and anxiety level in these workers. Stress management represents a very important topic. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Stress, Stress Disorders
- What is being tested?
- Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memory
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 26 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesItaly
- Study dates
- 6 Feb 2025to 1 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- age > 18 years old,
- being medical doctor or at first year of residency in Anesthesiology
- obtained written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Neurological issues affecting stress responses
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular conditions (i.e., hypertension, orthostatic hypotension etc)
- Being under psychiatric medications
- Psychological or psychiatric diseases
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Italy2 sites
Istituto di Anestesia e Rianimazione
Padova, Italy, 35126
University of Padova
Padova, PD, 35126
About this study
Official title: Manage Your Negative Thoughts: Stress, Anxiety Management Through Hypnosis in Medical Trainees
Medical doctor generally are exposed to several risks and pressures, it is not a case that several meta-analyses have shown high stress and anxiety level in these workers. Stress management represents a very important topic. Being a doctor means dealing with continous effort and arousal management to provide the best treatment through executive functions capacity. This is particularly true for younger medical trainees; that have also to learn how to deal with failure and the curve of learning. Hypnosis has been shown to be very effective at modulating executive functions and sympathovagal balance, with large effect in post traumatic stress disease (PTSD), anxiety and executive function modulation. Therefore, this study aim to investigate if hypnosis could be beneficial among medical trainees for managing negative thoughts related to work.
Read the detailed description
Stress and anxiety are very important issues in medical training. Several methods have been applied, from psychotherapy to biofeedback, but the physiological component usually have been dismissed. Training medical trainees to manage their physiological activity through hypnosis can probably transfer practical results, i.e. increased wellbeing, modulation of the working energy and the transfer from planning to properly execution. To obtain this results after a basal evaluation of physiological data (HR; Heart rate, HRV, Heart Rate Variability, EDA; Electrodermal activity, and SCr; Skin conductance responses) stress and of anxiety levels, , with PSS-10 scale, VAS stress, VAS anxiety and Tower of London test ( TOL-R), participants will recollect a negative memory for 3 minutes to monitor their response. After that a brief session of hypnosis will be performed with positive memories being recollected while all physiological data will be monitored. Then participants will be subjected again to the negative memory task end at the end of the session the same test of the basal evaluation will be carried out.
- Conditions
- Stress, Stress Disorders
- Being tested
- Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memory, Sham Comparator: Control group
- Keywords
- stress, disorder, hypnosis
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memoryBehavioural
Arm Description: T0) basal evaluation of physiological data T1) evaluation of physiological data after recollecting a negative memory for 3 minutes T2) evaluation of physiological data after that a brief session of hypnosis (performed with positive memories) T3) evaluation of physiological data recolling, for the second time, the negative memory.
Sham Comparator: Control groupBehavioural
Arm Description: Active control group con breath-focused attention. Allocation: Non-randomized
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Hypnosis and negative memory (n. 26) | Experimental | T0) basal evaluation of physiological data T1) evaluation of physiological data after recollecting a negative memory for 3 minutes T2) evaluation of physiological data after that a brief session of hypnosis (performed with positive memories) T3) evaluation of physiological data recolling, for the second time, the negative memory. Receives: Behavioral: Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memory |
| Control group (n. 23) | Sham comparator | Active control group con breath-focused attention. Allocation: Non-randomized Receives: Behavioral: Sham Comparator: Control group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Evaluation of the variations of the tonic and phasic component of the Electrodermal Activity (EDA,microSiemens) and Skin conductance response comparing pre and post-hypnosis (SCr/min)
Evaluation of the variations of the tonic and phasic component of the Electrodermal Activity (EDA,microSiemens) and Skin conductance response comparing pre and post-hypnosis (SCr/min)
Measured: T0) Within 3 minutes from electrodes application (at baseline), T1) within 3minute after a negative memory (w/o hypnosis), T2) within 3minutes after a positive memory, T3) within 3minutes after recalling the negative memory (after hypnosis application)
Evaluation of the executive performance comparing pre- and post-hypnosis through Tower of London-Revised (TOL-R) (number of correct responses)
Evaluation of the executive performance comparing pre- and post-hypnosis through Tower of London-Revised (TOL-R) (number of correct responses)
Measured: Within 3 minutes from the first negative memory (without hypnosis) and then, within 3 minutes from the negative memory (with hypnosis)
Secondary outcomes (2)
Evaluation of the variations of psychological stress response to a negative memory related to work between pre and post hypnosis on a scale from 0 to 10
Evaluation of the variations of psychological stress response to a negative memory related to work between pre and post hypnosis on a scale from 0 to 10
Measured: Within 3 minutes from the first negative memory (without hypnosis) and then, within 3 minutes from the negative memory (with hypnosis)
Evaluation of the Heart rate variability (HRV) comparing pre and post-hypnosis (ms)
Evaluation of the Heart rate variability (HRV) comparing pre and post-hypnosis (ms)
Measured: T0) Within 3 minutes from electrodes application (at baseline), T1) within 3minute after a negative memory (w/o hypnosis), T2) within 3minutes after a positive memory, T3) within 3minutes after recalling the negative memory (after hypnosis application)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jan 2025
- Study start6 Feb 2025
- Primary completion1 Apr 2025
- Study completion1 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for StressStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 26 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Padova
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Annalisa Boscolo, University of Padova
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06778109
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IPNOSIS
- Acronym
- Hypnosis
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Dec 2024
- Last updated
- 18 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Queirolo L, Boscolo A, Cracco T, Moscardi O, Facco E, Zanette G, Stellini E, Navalesi P. Hypnosis reshapes multilevel stress response and enhances executive performance in stressed medical students. Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 26;16(1):8844. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-40770-6.
PubMed 41748676
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Manage Your Negative Thoughts: Stress, Anxiety Management Through Hypnosis in Medical Trainees
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06778109
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Hypnosis / IPNOSIS
- Conditions
- Stress, Stress Disorders
- Keywords
- stress, disorder, hypnosis
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 26 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PadovaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 6 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Medical doctor generally are exposed to several risks and pressures, it is not a case that several meta-analyses have shown high stress and anxiety level in these workers. Stress management represents a very important topic. Being a doctor means dealing with continous effort and arousal management to provide the best treatment through executive functions capacity. This is particularly true for younger medical trainees; that have also to learn how to deal with failure and the curve of learning. Hypnosis has been shown to be very effective at modulating executive functions and sympathovagal balance, with large effect in post traumatic stress disease (PTSD), anxiety and executive function modulation. Therefore, this study aim to investigate if hypnosis could be beneficial among medical trainees for managing negative thoughts related to work.
Detailed description
Stress and anxiety are very important issues in medical training. Several methods have been applied, from psychotherapy to biofeedback, but the physiological component usually have been dismissed. Training medical trainees to manage their physiological activity through hypnosis can probably transfer practical results, i.e. increased wellbeing, modulation of the working energy and the transfer from planning to properly execution. To obtain this results after a basal evaluation of physiological data (HR; Heart rate, HRV, Heart Rate Variability, EDA; Electrodermal activity, and SCr; Skin conductance responses) stress and of anxiety levels, , with PSS-10 scale, VAS stress, VAS anxiety and Tower of London test ( TOL-R), participants will recollect a negative memory for 3 minutes to monitor their response. After that a brief session of hypnosis will be performed with positive memories being recollected while all physiological data will be monitored. Then participants will be subjected again to the negative memory task end at the end of the session the same test of the basal evaluation will be carried out.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Hypnosis and negative memory (n. 26) | Experimental | Behavioral: Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memoryT0) basal evaluation of physiological data T1) evaluation of physiological data after recollecting a negative memory for 3 minutes T2) evaluation of physiological data after that a brief session of hypnosis (performed with positive memories) T3) evaluation of physiological data recolling, for the second time, the negative memory. |
| Control group (n. 23) | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Sham Comparator: Control groupActive control group con breath-focused attention. Allocation: Non-randomized |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- age > 18 years old,
- being medical doctor or at first year of residency in Anesthesiology
- obtained written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Neurological issues affecting stress responses
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular conditions (i.e., hypertension, orthostatic hypotension etc)
- Being under psychiatric medications
- Psychological or psychiatric diseases
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memoryArm Description: T0) basal evaluation of physiological data T1) evaluation of physiological data after recollecting a negative memory for 3 minutes T2) evaluation of physiological data after that a brief session of hypnosis (performed with positive memories) T3) evaluation of physiological data recolling, for the second time, the negative memory. | Behavioural | Hypnosis and negative memory (n. 26) |
| Sham Comparator: Control groupArm Description: Active control group con breath-focused attention. Allocation: Non-randomized | Behavioural | Control group (n. 23) |
Primary outcome
Evaluation of the variations of the tonic and phasic component of the Electrodermal Activity (EDA,microSiemens) and Skin conductance response comparing pre and post-hypnosis (SCr/min)
Time frame: T0) Within 3 minutes from electrodes application (at baseline), T1) within 3minute after a negative memory (w/o hypnosis), T2) within 3minutes after a positive memory, T3) within 3minutes after recalling the negative memory (after hypnosis application)
Evaluation of the variations of the tonic and phasic component of the Electrodermal Activity (EDA,microSiemens) and Skin conductance response comparing pre and post-hypnosis (SCr/min)
Evaluation of the executive performance comparing pre- and post-hypnosis through Tower of London-Revised (TOL-R) (number of correct responses)
Time frame: Within 3 minutes from the first negative memory (without hypnosis) and then, within 3 minutes from the negative memory (with hypnosis)
Evaluation of the executive performance comparing pre- and post-hypnosis through Tower of London-Revised (TOL-R) (number of correct responses)
2 secondary outcomes
Evaluation of the variations of psychological stress response to a negative memory related to work between pre and post hypnosis on a scale from 0 to 10
Time frame: Within 3 minutes from the first negative memory (without hypnosis) and then, within 3 minutes from the negative memory (with hypnosis)
Evaluation of the Heart rate variability (HRV) comparing pre and post-hypnosis (ms)
Time frame: T0) Within 3 minutes from electrodes application (at baseline), T1) within 3minute after a negative memory (w/o hypnosis), T2) within 3minutes after a positive memory, T3) within 3minutes after recalling the negative memory (after hypnosis application)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Feb 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41748676Queirolo L, Boscolo A, Cracco T, Moscardi O, Facco E, Zanette G, Stellini E, Navalesi P. Hypnosis reshapes multilevel stress response and enhances executive performance in stressed medical students. Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 26;16(1):8844. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-40770-6.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Stress
Not yet recruiting
Feasibility of Resisted Expiratory Muscle Training for Females Assigned at Birth With Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Pilot Study
Stress Urinary Incontinence
Recruiting
Early Intervention for Postpartum PTSD: Comparing Written Exposure and Capnometry-Guided Breathing Therapy
Written Exposure Therapy, Breathing Techniques
Recruiting
DBT-P Treatment Study
Emotion Dysregulation
RecruitingObservational study
Geospatial Analysis of Neighborhood Environmental Stress in Relation to Biological Markers of Cardiovascular Health and Health Behaviors in Women
Cardiovascular (CV) Risk
Not yet recruiting
RISE for PTSD and Substance Use Disorder in Veterans
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Substance-Related Disorders
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Experimental: Hypnosis and negative memory in people with Stress and Stress Disorders, run by University of Padova at 2 sites in Italy.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Evaluation of the variations of the tonic and phasic component of the Electrodermal Activity (EDA,microSiemens) and Skin conductance response comparing pre and post-hypnosis (SCr/min) (time frame: T0) Within 3 minutes from electrodes application (at baseline), T1) within 3minute after a negative memory (w/o hypnosis), T2) within 3minutes after a positive memory, T3) within 3minutes after recalling the negative memory (after hypnosis application)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06778109, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Feb 2026.