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NCT Number: NCT07444255

Comparison of the Effect on Anxiety of Combining Hypnosis and Aromatherapy Through Olfactory Anchoring Versus Standard Care in Patients Undergoing Alcohol Withdrawal

According to a meta-analysis published in 2019, hypnosis has demonstrated positive effects in the treatment of certain mental illnesses, particularly anxiety. This technique aims to put the subject into a particular state of consciousness conducive to therapeutic action. The safe place in hypnosis is the basis for anxiety relief work, the first step towards the use of hypnotic metaphors. Smell is an excellent way to stimulate the imagination in creating this safe place.

Anchoring allows the effects of a hypnosis session to be reactivated, enabling the subject to re-experience its benefits through tactile stimulation, a key word, or an image. The investigators use olfactory stimulation as a hypnotic anchor while also utilizing the anxiolytic properties of essential oils.

While there are already studies on the use of hypnosis or aromatherapy in the treatment of patients who use psychotropic drugs, no study to date has focused on their combined use. The innovative aspect of this treatment lies in the prolongation and reinforcement of the effect of the hypnosis session through olfactory stimulation.

The literature shows that memories triggered by a smell have the ability to materialize physiologically in the areas of the brain that process spatial and temporal information. This is also a goal that hypnosis aspires to achieve.

The investigators hypothesize that the use of these two tools in formalized, time-limited nursing interviews can provide patients in the complex withdrawal unit with the means to reduce their anxiety in the short and medium term.

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Withdrawal Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg

Strasbourg, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients aged 18 or over
  • Patients hospitalized in an addiction unit for acute alcohol withdrawal and suffering from anxiety disorders
  • Patients affiliated with a social security health insurance scheme, beneficiaries or dependents
  • Patients who speak/read French, are able to understand the objectives and risks associated with the research, and can give dated and signed informed consent
  • Patients who adhere to complementary therapies
  • For women of childbearing age, patients for whom the beta HCG test (urine or blood, performed routinely) is negative and who are using effective contraception.

Exclusion criteria

  • Allergy(ies)/contraindication(s) to essential oils selected for the project
  • Patients with psychosis or complex psychological trauma
  • Anosmia, hyposmia, or other olfactory disorders limiting the quality of smell
  • Asthma
  • Ear, nose and throat pathology(ies) contraindicating essential oils in olfaction
  • Skepticism regarding the effectiveness of hypnosis and aromatherapy
  • Patient under guardianship/curatorship
  • Patients excluded from a previous or ongoing study
  • Patients in an emergency or life-threatening situation
  • Patients under legal guardianship
  • Patients who have already participated in this study
  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding

Treatment and study plan

Usual treatment

Other

Withdrawal care provided according to standard practice

experimental treatment

Other

Treatment for withdrawal using hypnosis and aromatherapy

Primary outcomes

  1. Change of anxiety disorders as assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale between the start and end of the patient's hospitalization.

    Time frame: Day 0 and Day 15

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Benoît Lefeuvre

CONTACT

[email protected]

+33 88 11 66 53

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Trial Comparing the Effect on Anxiety of Combining Hypnosis and Aromatherapy Through Olfactory Anchoring Versus Standard Care in Patients Undergoing Alcohol Withdrawal

Acronym: ASHA

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Mar 2, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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