Little evidence for NLP in Healthcare

A new review of the use of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) in healthcare has concluded that there is little evidence of its success in improving outcomes for patients. Jackie Sturt, Professor of Behavioural Medicine at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London, conducted a review of existing research and found that there is insufficient evidence to justify the amount of money spent on NLP by the NHS.

While there is no agreed definition, Neurolinguistic Programming describes a range of interventions used to facilitate change in thinking and behaviour by tailoring communication to an individual’s requirements, whether that be visual, auditory, kinaesthetic or otherwise. A Freedom of Information request revealed that the NHS spent over £800,000 on NLP from 2006-9, and a further estimated £105,000 on training staff.

Professor Sturt said:

‘Neurolinguistic Programming is currently used to help with certain health conditions such as anxiety disorders,weight management, morning sickness, substance misuse, and claustrophobia during MRI scans. However, the very fact that there is no agreed definition of NLP indicates how little evidence we have of its benefits.’

The review identified just 10 relevant NLP studies, four of which referred only generally to ‘NLP techniques’ rather than using well-established interventions. There was huge variation in the demographic data recorded, the type and number of NLP interventions delivered and the outcomes assessed. Professor Sturt’s study concluded, therefore, that there was little evidence that NLP interventions improved health-related outcomes, especially when compared to more established psychological treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Professor Sturt continued:

“What this project reveals is that we need more research into the benefits of using NLP in healthcare. The limited number of quality studies available indicates the limited evidence base for these interventions and it is important that more money is invested in appropriately controlled trials to clarify its role. I am certainly not saying that there is evidence that it does not work, but merely that no further money should be invested in treatments with such limited robust data to support them.”

Professor Sturt’s paper has been published in the British Journal of General Practice and is available at: http://www.rcgp.org.uk/bjgp

For more information or interview opportunities with Professor Jackie Sturt contact:

Allie Johnstone
Communications Officer
Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College London
T: 020 7848 3062
E: allie.johnstone@kcl.ac.uk