Islamic-Oriented vs. Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy for Anxiety and Depression (IEH-RTC)

March 21, 2025 updated by: Metin Çınaroğlu, Istanbul Nisantasi University

Efficacy of Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy vs. Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy in Reducing Anxiety and Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to compare the effectiveness of Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (IEH) and Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (SEH) in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study will enroll 90 participants with mild to moderate anxiety and depression, who will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) IEH intervention, (2) SEH intervention, or (3) control group (no intervention). Participants in the intervention groups will receive 12 weekly hypnotherapy sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. The primary outcomes include changes in Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores from baseline to post-intervention and at a 4-week follow-up.

The study will also assess whether religious belief levels moderate the effects of the intervention using the OK-Religious Attitude Scale. Data collection will be performed at Istanbul Nişantaşı University, and ethical approval has been obtained.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the differential effects of Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (IEH) and Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (SEH) in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression among religious Muslim adults. The primary objective is to examine whether the integration of Islamic religious elements into Ericksonian hypnotherapy enhances clinical outcomes compared to its standard application.

The study follows a parallel-group design with three arms: IEH, SEH, and a no-intervention control. Ninety participants (30 per group) are randomized using stratified block randomization based on age and gender. All intervention sessions are manualized, delivered by trained clinical psychologists, and conducted weekly over 12 weeks (each lasting 60 minutes).

IEH sessions incorporate culturally and religiously adapted therapeutic elements, such as Quranic metaphors, Islamic imagery, and spiritual affirmations, in line with the Ericksonian framework. SEH sessions utilize traditional hypnotic techniques including metaphorical storytelling, guided imagery, and indirect suggestions, without religious content.

Primary outcome measures include changes in Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores from baseline to Week 12 (post-intervention) and Week 16 (follow-up). Secondary analyses will investigate whether religiosity levels (measured via the OK-Religious Attitude Scale) moderate treatment effects. Blinded outcome assessors will ensure unbiased data collection.

This study addresses the need for culturally responsive mental health interventions within Muslim populations. Ethical approval was obtained from the İstanbul Nişantaşı University Ethics Committee (Approval No: 20250103-27). Results are expected to contribute to evidence-based development of spiritually integrated psychotherapeutic models for anxiety and depression.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

90

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey
      • İstanbul, Turkey, 34277
        • Recruiting
        • İstanbul Nişantaşı University
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Metin Çınaroğlu, Phd

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Muslim individuals aged 18-65 years.
  • Mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression symptoms (assessed via Beck
  • Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)).
  • No formal psychiatric diagnosis but experiencing psychological distress.
  • High religious belief levels, assessed via OK-Religious Attitude Scale.
  • Not currently receiving psychotherapy or psychotropic medication.
  • Ability to give informed consent and complete the study requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe MDD).
  • Current use of psychotropic medication or undergoing psychotherapy.
  • History of substance abuse or dependence.
  • Diagnosed dissociative disorders (contraindications for hypnosis).
  • Cognitive impairment affecting comprehension of intervention.
  • Severe medical conditions that may interfere with participation.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (IEH) Group
Participants receive 12 weekly sessions of Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (IEH), which integrates faith-based imagery, Quranic metaphors, and religiously adapted hypnotic suggestions alongside standard Ericksonian techniques. Each session lasts 60 minutes.
Behavioral: Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (IEH)

This intervention involves 12 weekly sessions (60 minutes each) of Ericksonian hypnotherapy integrated with Islamic religious elements. Sessions incorporate:

Quranic metaphors and Islamic imagery Spiritual affirmations to enhance relaxation and emotional regulation Faith-based guided hypnosis adapted to cultural and religious beliefs Techniques such as indirect suggestions, therapeutic storytelling, and guided imagery The intervention is designed for Muslim participants with mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
Active Comparator: Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (SEH) Group
Participants receive 12 weekly sessions of Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (SEH), using metaphorical storytelling, indirect suggestions, guided imagery, and hypnotic language patterns without religious integration. Each session lasts 60 minutes.
Behavioral: Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (SEH)

Participants receive 12 weekly sessions (60 minutes each) of standard Ericksonian hypnotherapy, which includes:

Metaphorical storytelling and guided imagery Indirect hypnotic suggestions to promote psychological flexibility Relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms Unlike the Islamic-Oriented Hypnotherapy (IEH), this intervention does not integrate religious or faith-based elements.
No Intervention: Control Group (No Intervention)
Participants do not receive any intervention but will complete assessments at baseline, post-intervention (Week 12), and follow-up (Week 16).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention), Week 16 (follow-up)
The study evaluates the effectiveness of Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (IEH) vs. Standard Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (SEH) vs. No Intervention in reducing depressive symptoms. Depression severity will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), comparing baseline, post-intervention (Week 12), and follow-up (Week 16) scores.
Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention), Week 16 (follow-up)
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 12, Week 16
The study measures reductions in anxiety symptoms among participants receiving IEH, SEH, or no intervention. Anxiety severity will be assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), comparing scores from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up.
Baseline, Week 12, Week 16

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Nisantasi University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Metin Çınaroğlu, Phd, Istanbul Nisantasi Universitesi

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 25, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 19, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 19, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

March 26, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 21, 2025

Last Verified

March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IEH

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared upon publication of the study results in a peer-reviewed journal. The shared dataset will include anonymized scores from outcome measures (e.g., BDI-II, BAI) and will exclude any personally identifiable information. Data will be available upon reasonable request for research purposes.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

IPD and supporting information will be available after publication of study results and will remain accessible for five years post-publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Researchers requesting access must submit a formal request specifying their intended use of the data. Access will be granted upon institutional review and approval by the research team. Requests can be made by contacting the corresponding author via email.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Depressive Disorder

Clinical Trials on Islamic-Oriented Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (IEH)

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Thailand

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe