Effectiveness of cognitive analytical hypnotherapy on self-esteem, adaptation and emotional regulation in people with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder

Introduction: People with generalized anxiety disorder have often low self-esteem, problematic patterns of emotional response, and poor adaptation to new situations. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive analytical hypnotherapy on self-esteem, adaptation and emotional regulation in people with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Methodology: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test–post-test structure and a control group. The statistical population included all individuals with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder who referred to counseling centers in Tehran's District 3 in 2023. A total of 30 participants were selected through convenience sampling and were then randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). All participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing worry, self-esteem, adaptability, and emotion regulation both before and after the intervention. The experimental group underwent cognitive analytic hypnotherapy in eight 60-minute sessions held twice weekly, whereas the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare post-test scores between the groups. Results: The results showed that cognitive analytical hypnotherapy had a positive effect on self-esteem, adaptation and emotional regulation in people with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (P<0.01). Conclusion: Based on the findings, cognitive analytical hypnotherapy was effective in increasing self-esteem, adaptation and emotional regulation of people with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Therefore, it can be suggested as a suitable intervention for generalized anxiety disorder.