Hypnosis in Pediatric Oncology

Abstract

Hypnosis is a modified state of consciousness which showed its benefits to decrease different symptoms, mainly pain. During the last decade, this technique has also been proposed to adults with cancer to improve other symptoms, such as emotional distress, fatigue, or sleep difficulties. In pediatric oncology, hypnosis is also used to decrease disease-, treatment-, and procedure-related pain and anxiety. The learning of self-hypnosis and self-care techniques also improves the well-being of adults or children with cancer, their parents, and their siblings. Through several clinical cases, we will illustrate how hypnosis and self-care techniques have been implemented in the pediatric haemato-oncology department of the CHC MontLégia (Liège, Belgium) and will describe their benefits.