Hypnotic safety suggestions reduce cortisol awakening response and morning heart rate in daily life.

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Described as 'significant' but specific values not provided

• Effect Size: Not reported in abstract

• Primary Outcome: Significant reduction in cortisol awakening response and morning heart rate in hypnosis group during week 2 post-intervention

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not calculable from available data

• Confidence Interval: Not reported in abstract

Clinical Application

High feasibility - single session intervention with minimal training requirements for practitioners Relevant to Australian primary care and mental health settings; could complement existing stress management approaches under Medicare-funded psychological services Healthy adults experiencing anticipatory stress or seeking stress management interventions

Abstract

With stress being causally linked to the most frequently occurring mental and physical health problems, effective coping with acute stress is essential for promoting overall well-being and building long-term stress resilience. However, most interventions aimed at improving stress regulation require extended periods of training and practice. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the Jena Safety Anchor-a brief, hypnosis-based intervention-effectively reduced subjective stress responses in a controlled laboratory setting using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). The present study examined whether this effect extends to everyday life. A total of 80 participants (n = 40 female) were randomly assigned to either a hypnosis group or a control group (n = 40 per group). Over the course of two weeks, all participants collected saliva samples at home to assess their cortisol awakening response (CAR), an indicator of anticipatory stress, reflecting the body's preparation for expected demands upon waking. Additionally, all participants continuously recorded their heart rate via smartwatches during the two data collection weeks. The hypnosis group received a single guided session of the Jena Safety Anchor at the end of the first week, while the control group came to the laboratory but received no intervention. CAR was measured via three saliva samples taken within one hour after waking on specified days. Morning heart rate was measured between 6 and 9 a.m. Results revealed a significant reduction in CAR and morning heart rate in the hypnosis group during the second week, following the intervention. In contrast, no change in CAR and morning heart rate was observed in the control group. These findings show that a single session of the Jena Safety Anchor can effectively reduce physiological stress anticipation in the morning. This points to its potential as a rapid, low-effort intervention for enhancing stress coping and fostering resilience. It offers a promising approach to mental health promotion that is both time-efficient and easily integrated into everyday routines.

References

1. 1.Schmidt, B., Riede, M., Walter, M., & Engert, V. (2026). Hypnotic safety suggestions reduce cortisol awakening response and morning heart rate in daily life. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.917139