The Sufi-Informed Mind-Body Connection: A Meta-Synthesis of Hypnosis and Meaning-Centered Therapy in Physical Health, with an Existential Framework from Attar and Rumi

The integration of psychological and spiritual dimensions in the treatment of physical illness represents a critical frontier in holistic healthcare. This meta-synthesis addresses the efficacy of two distinct yet complementary mind-body modalities—Clinical Hypnosis and Meaning-Centered Therapy (MCT)—and proposes a novel philosophical framework for their synergy rooted in the Sufi existentialism of Farid al-Din Attar and Jalal al-Din Rumi. The study systematically reviewed meta-analyses and systematic reviews published between ۲۰۰۵ and ۲۰۲۵, focusing on the application of hypnosis and MCT in somatic conditions, pain management, and chronic disease. Key findings from ۴۹ meta-analyses on hypnosis demonstrated robust, large effect sizes (Cohen’s d up to ۲.۷۲) in areas such as procedural pain, labor/childbirth, and cancer-related symptoms. Similarly, ۶۰ trials on MCT showed large, sustained effects (Hedges’ g up to ۱.۰۶) on improving quality of life and reducing psychological distress in patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The philosophical teachings of Attar and Rumi, particularly their emphasis on self-transcendence and meaning-making through suffering, provide a profound, culturally resonant existential foundation that aligns perfectly with the core mechanisms of both hypnosis (enhanced suggestibility and self-regulation) and MCT (purpose, values, and hope). This paper proposes the Sufi-Informed Meaning-Centered Hypnotherapy (SIMCH) model, a novel, integrated approach designed to harness the power of suggestion for somatic change while anchoring the patient’s experience in a deep, spiritual, and existential sense of purpose. The SIMCH model offers a pathway for clinicians to address the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of patients simultaneously, suggesting a paradigm shift toward truly holistic medical treatment.

کلیدواژه ها:

Clinical Hypnosis ، Meaning-Centered Therapy ، Logotherapy ، Attar ، Rumi ، Sufism ، Physical Health ، Meta-Synthesis ، Self-Transcendence