Comparing the efficacy of hypnosis and the muscle relaxation in the symptom-relief of premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common health problem in women in reproductive age which can impact their performance and quality of life. Considering drug- related side effects and limited evidences supporting the efficacy of hypnosis in PMS, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of hypnosis and the muscle relaxation in the symptom-relief of premenstrual syndrome.
This randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) was conducted on all 38 women with diagnostic criteria of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (based on DSM IV) who were referred to the clinics of Yahyanejad and Rohani Hospital in Babol (Iran) in 2016. They were allocated into two groups randomly. The first group received muscle relaxation and the second group received hypnotherapy. The patients filled out PMS symptom severity questionnaires at baseline, the 1st and 3rd months after intervention. Eight patients lost the follow up; therefore, data related to 30 patients was analyzed
Data analysis showed that the two groups were similar in demographic characteristics (P > 0.05). Mean of symptom severity score decreased significantly in the hypnotherapy group in comparison with the muscle relaxation group (p It seems that hypnosis can be significantly effective in the treatment of PMS and can reduce its symptoms.