• Daisuke Nishi, Miyako N Shirakawa, Erika Ota, Nobutsugu Hanada, and Rintaro Mori.
• Department of Mental Health Policy and Evaluation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashicho, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan, 187-8553.
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2014 Aug 14; 2014 (8): CD010852CD010852.

BackgroundInduction of labour using pharmacological and mechanical methods can increase complications. Complementary and alternative medicine methods including hypnosis may have the potential to provide a safe alternative option for the induction of labour. However, the effectiveness of hypnosis for inducing labour has not yet been fully evaluated.ObjectivesTo assess the effect of hypnosis for induction of labour compared with no intervention or any other interventions.Search MethodsWe searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 January 2014), handsearched relevant conference proceedings, contacted key personnel and organisations in the field for published and unpublished references.Selection CriteriaAll published and unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-RCTs of acceptable quality comparing hypnosis with no intervention or any other interventions, in which the primary outcome is to assess whether labour was induced.Data Collection And AnalysisTwo review authors assessed the one trial report that was identified (but was subsequently excluded).Main ResultsNo RCTs or cluster-RCTs were identified from the search strategy.Authors' ConclusionsThere was no evidence available from RCTs to assess the effect of hypnosis for induction of labour. Evidence from RCTs is required to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this intervention for labour induction. As hypnosis may delay standard care (in case standard care is withheld during hypnosis), its use in induction of labour should be considered on a case-by-case basis.Future RCTs are required to examine the effectiveness and safety of hypnotic relaxation for induction of labour among pregnant women who have anxiety above a certain level. The length and timing of the intervention, as well as the staff training required, should be taken into consideration. Moreover, the views and experiences of women and staff should also be included in future RCTs.

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