Haleh Saadat MD, FAAP

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology; Medical Director, Pediatric Sedation Services; Medical Director, Pediatric Pain management; Associate section chief -Pediatric Anesthesia

Research Interests

Effects of hypnosis on perioperative setting; Implementation of the wellness program in anesthesiology residents at Yale (supported by FAER Grant); Pediatric sedation; Anesthesiology; Pain; Pediatrics; Hypnosis; Perioperative Anxiety and Pain Control

Research Summary

Implementation and Testing of a Wellness Program:

Physicians undergoing residency training in the United States suffer high levels of stress, which may lead to increased alcohol and drug abuse, interpersonal relationship difficulties, depression and anxiety, and even suicide. Stress also may harm trainees' professional effectiveness as it decreases attention, reduces concentration, impinges on decision-making skills, and reduces trainees' abilities to establish strong physician-patient relationships. Despite numerous reports that condemn the negative consequences of stress during medical residency training and the appeal for change, there are only a few academic institutions that have initiated comprehensive wellness programs. As such, we aim to implement a validated, scientifically solid, comprehensive wellness program directed toward residents undergoing training in anesthesiology.

Effects of Hypnosis in Peri-operative Surgical Patient:

Multiple studies have suggested that increased preoperative anxiety correlates with outcomes such as increased postoperative pain, increased postoperative analgesic requirements and prolonged recovery. As part of our bio-psycho-social research group in the peri-operative settings, we evaluated the effectiveness of a hypnosis intervention in the peri-operative settings. We were able were able to report positive results after administration a hypnosis session to adult surgical patient, with statistically significant reductions in anxiety/distress prior to, as well as inside the operating room. This initial study suggests that hypnosis has potential as a clinically valuable intervention in peri-operative settings and could contribute to the management of procedure-related anxiety and distress in surgical patients. Currently we are in process of another study to establish whether hypnosis has an affect on post operative pain relief in surgical patient. Our next step is to evaluate the effect of hypnosis in the intra operative course of adult surgical patient, as well as the effect of hypnosis in pediatric surgical population.

Selected Publications