An interventional study of conversational hypnosis in Cardio Vascular Disease, sponsored by Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph. Recruiting at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-06.
Sponsored by Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is a routine cardiology examination that is performed in most cases under local anaesthesia and is recommended for many indications.The objective of our study will be to evaluate the expected beneficial effect of using conversational hypnosis and hypnosis during a transoesophageal ultrasound examination performed directly in the examination room by the cardiologist conducting the examination.
Transoesophageal echocardiography is a routine cardiology examination that is performed in most cases under local anaesthesia and is recommended for a number of indications: stroke assessment, endocarditis screening, and heart valve evaluation. It involves inserting an ultrasound probe into the oesophagus through the patient's mouth in order to see the heart more closely and from a different angle. It is a useful and necessary examination in certain situations, but it can be uncomfortable for patients despite local anaesthesia. The examination can be performed under general anaesthesia, but this carries a risk of adverse effects (between 5 and 6%) for the patient and requires more extensive care (anaesthetist, prolonged monitoring during recovery).
The objective of our study will be to evaluate the expected beneficial effect of using conversational hypnosis and hypnosis during a transoesophageal ultrasound examination performed directly in the examination room by the cardiologist conducting the examination. The cardiologist will use the unavoidable time required to set up and explain the examination to use conversational hypnosis and will take additional, deliberately shortened time to perform 'light' hypnosis. The effectiveness of the combined use of a conversational hypnosis phase and a hypnosis phase will be compared, in terms of tolerance of the examination and time consumed, to a 'classic' interview conducted by a cardiologist not trained in these two techniques. In both situations, the explanation given to the patient will be complete and adapted to each patient's level of understanding and will be provided before the patient is in a state of hypnosis. If we can show that by using the necessary and unavoidable time to explain the examination to the patient, we can use conversational hypnosis and hypnosis techniques to improve the patient's comfort without excessive loss of time (>15 minutes) or the need for additional staff, this would highlight the value of using these techniques in daily practice and the expected benefits of training healthcare professionals.
8,255 studies on the registry are indexed under Stroke; 2,056 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 150 is above the median of 49 across 6,024 interventional studies indexed under Stroke.
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Patient aged ≥ 18 years old
Exclusion Criteria:
Patient with a to transoesophageal ultrasound (significant radiation exposure to the chest, oesophageal pathology with risk of bleeding)
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
For the 'hypnosis' experimental group, the examination will be carried out in the usual room. Local anaesthesia will be administered by a nurse. A first cardiologist (a doctor trained in hypnosis) will be present to explain the procedure to the patient using conversational hypnosis. Once all the information has been provided and understood, he will use hypnosis to attempt to induce a trance (see section 1.4, procedure performed). A second cardiologist (operator) will perform the examination. As in the control group, the cardiologist trained in hypnosis will assist the operating cardiologist during the examination and may perform the examination himself if the first operator fails.
Other: conversational hypnosis
For the control group, the examination will be performed according to standard practice. A nurse will administer local anaesthesia to the throat, then a first cardiologist (operator) will inform the patient about the examination procedure and perform the examination. A second cardiologist will assist the first operator and may perform the examination themselves if the first operator is unsuccessful after three attempts.
Local anaesthesia will be administered by a nurse. A first cardiologist (a doctor trained in hypnosis) will be present to explain the procedure to the patient using conversational hypnosis. Once all the information has been provided and understood, he will use hypnosis to attempt to induce a trance (see section 1.4 Procedure). A second cardiologist (operator) will perform the examination. As in the control group, the cardiologist trained in hypnosis will assist the operating cardiologist during the examination and may perform the examination himself if the first operator fails.
the degree of comfort felt during the procedure, measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) (from 0 to 10) immediately after the examination
The main evaluation criterion is the degree of comfort felt during the operation, measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) (from 0 to 10) immediately after the examination. The question asked will be 'During the procedure, how comfortable were you?'
Time frame: 1 day
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Feb 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Oct 2028, 31 months after the start.
Of 3,108 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Stroke, half reached primary completion within 23 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 46. This study's planned 31 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 3,252 studies reached it within 23 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 46.
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