Self-hypnosis could be an effective treatment for children with chronic abdominal pain.

In a recent study, medical care along with home-administered guided imagery (self-hypnosis) successfully reduced abdominal pain in a majority of children. Chronic abdominal pain is a common complaint affecting up to 20 percent of children.

In the study, “Audio-Recorded Guided Imagery Treatment Reduces Functional Abdominal Pain in Children: Pilot Study,” 34 children, ages 6 to 15 with a physician diagnosis of functional abdominal pain, were randomly assigned to receive two months of standard medical care with or without home-based guided imagery using audio and visual recordings.

Sixty-three percent of the children who received guided imagery treatment reported 50 percent less stomach pain. The study authors recommend home-administered guided imagery as a safe, affordable treatment for chronic stomach pain.