The Efficacy of Self-hypnosis on Sleep Quality in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy in Primiparous Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background aim: Sleep quality disorder is one of the most common problems during pregnancy and is associated with many consequences for mother and infant. Based on the evidence, hypnosis can improve sleep quality by reducing nervous excitability, reducing mental stress, and decreasing physical discomfort. Therefore, the current study was conducted to examine the efficacy of self-hypnosis on sleep quality in the third trimester of pregnancy in primiparous women.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 60 primiparous women with a gestational age of 28-32 weeks using the block randomization in two hospitals and health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The subjects completed the demographic questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (2), Obstructive Sleep Apnea Questionnaire, Restless Legs Syndrome Questionnaire, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale–21 (3). The intervention group received three 60-minutes sessions of self-hypnosis training by the researcher as weekly for three weeks. The control group received routine care. At baseline and one week after the end of the intervention, PSQI was completed. Data analysis was done by SPSS software (version 16) using statistical tests of independent and paired t test, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon. Results: The total score of sleep quality in the intervention group decreased by 2.6 ± 2.3 and increased by 0.7 ± 1.4 in the control group (P 0.001).Conclusion: Self-hypnosis is effective on the sleep quality of pregnant women; this intervention can be used to improve the sleep quality of pregnant women.