Hypnosis and Attention in Patients With a Neurological Disease (Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis)

Neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently cause significant impairments in attentional abilities. Commonly accompanying symptoms include visual spatial neglect (VSN) and fatigue syndrome, which exacerbate attentional deficits. These impairments manifest notably as a reduction in spontaneous or free visual exploration (FVE), limiting patients' ability to actively scan and engage with their environment. This diminished visual exploration negatively impacts their capacity to navigate daily surroundings, compromising functional independence and overall quality of life (Chiaravalloti & DeLuca, 2008; Dillon et al., 2022; Huang et al., 2022).

Current therapeutic approaches include cognitive rehabilitation, visual exploration training, and non-invasive brain stimulation to promote neuroplasticity and functional recovery (Alashram AR, 2024; Liu-Ambrose et al., 2022; Rayegani et al., 2024; Bode et al., 2023; Lefaucheur et al., 2020). Additionally, management of fatigue focuses on energy regulation strategies in everyday life (Hersche et al., 2019). Despite these interventions, many patients continue to experience persistent attentional deficits and fatigue after rehabilitation, limiting their ability to perform daily activities and return to previous roles.

Hypnosis is emerging as a promising adjunct therapy in neurological rehabilitation. Widely used in medical fields such as pain management and mental health, hypnosis leverages the brain's ability to enter a state of focused attention and heightened cognitive receptivity, facilitating symptom relief and treatment enhancement without pharmacological side effects (Montgomery et al., 2002; Ogez et al., 2024; Rosendahl et al., 2023; Valentine et al., 2019). Preliminary evidence suggests hypnosis can improve attentional control and reduce fatigue in neurological populations (Gilbert et al., 2006; Jensen et al., 2025).

However, research on hypnosis in neurology remains limited, with a need for larger, rigorously controlled studies to confirm its efficacy and understand underlying mechanisms. This feasibility study aims to assess the practicality and acceptability of using hypnosis to treat attentional deficits and fatigue in patients with stroke, TBI, and MS, while also evaluating preliminary efficacy.

A key aspect of this study involves recording electroencephalography (EEG) during both hypnosis and sham-hypnosis sessions. EEG data will provide insight into neural correlates of attentional processing and determine whether hypnosis induces measurable changes in brain activity relative to sham conditions.

Inclusion criteria

ICD-10 Diagnosis of stroke, TBI or MS Admitted to the inpatient and/or outpatient in the Clinic for Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Age 18 years old or older Understanding the German language Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Psychiatric disease

Exclusion criteria

for the EEG:

Scalp or skin conditions that interfere with EEG electrode placement (e.g. open wounds, infections, severe psoriasis) Implanted medical or neurostimulation devices that interfere with EEG electrode placement (e.g. deep brain stimulators, cochlear implants)