Based on a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy showed significantly reduced fatigue as a result of cognitive behavioral therapy in addition to hypnosis (CBTH).

The study, titled, "Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Plus Hypnosis Intervention to Control Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer," was headed by Guy Montgomery, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of the Integrative Behavioral Medicine Program in the Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

The study’s results of a randomized controlled trial of 200 patients revealed that the treatment group had considerably decreased fatigue than a control group both during treatment and for a follow-up period of six months afterwards.

The mean patient in a treatment group had less fatigue than 79 percent of patients in a control group at the end of radiotherapy (RT). Six months following the end of RT, the mean patient in a treatment group had less fatigue than 95 percent of patients in a control group.

"These results support CBTH as an evidence-based complementary intervention to control fatigue in patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. CBTH works to reduce fatigue for patients who have few other treatment options. It is also noninvasive, has no adverse side-effects, and its beneficial effects persist long after the last intervention,” said Montgomery.

Furthermore, patients also mentioned that participating in CBTH was both soothing and useful.

"This study is important because it shows a new intervention that helps to improve patients' quality of life during taxing course of breast cancer radiotherapy and for long after," said Montgomery.