The treatment of parasomnias with hypnosis: a 5-year follow-up study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES This study involves a replication and extension of a previous one reported by Hurwitz et al (1991) on the treatment of certain parasomnias with hypnosis. METHODS Thirty-six patients (17 females), mean age 32.7 years (range 6-71). Four were children aged 6 to 16. All had chronic, "functionally autonomous" (self-sustaining) parasomnias. All underwent 1 or 2 hypnotherapy sessions and were then followed by questionnaire for 5 years. RESULTS Of the 36 patients, 45.4% were symptom-free or at least much improved at the 1-month follow-up, 42.2% at the 18-month follow-up, and 40.5% at the 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS One or 2 sessions of hypnotherapy might be an efficient first-line therapy for patients with certain types of parasomnias.