STUDY OBJECTIVE To compare the effect of a standardized stimulus during propofol-only hypnosis on the bispectral index (BIS) value with the effect of the injection of local anesthesia for surgery during ketamine plus propofol hypnosis (dissociative monitored anesthesia care). To determine whether ketamine increases the level of propofol hypnosis when used in dissociative doses. DESIGN Descrip...

In this pilot study, we compare the efficacy for fibromyalgia of multimodal cognitive behavioral treatments, with and without hypnosis, with that of a purely pharmacological approach, with a multiple baseline N = 1 design. We randomly assigned six hospital patients to the three experimental conditions. The results suggest that psychological treatment produces greater symptom benefits than the c...

An early form of psychotherapy, hypnosis has been tarnished by a checkered history: stage shows, movies and cartoons that perpetuate specious myths; and individuals who unabashedly write 'hypnotist' on their business cards. Hypnosis is in the twilight zone alongside a few other mind-body exemplars. Although scientists are still unraveling how hypnosis works, little is mystical about this powerf...

QUESTION Many children suffer from chronic and painful illnesses. Hypnosis was found to be effective for analgesia in adults. Is it effective for managing pain in children? ANSWER Children can be easier to hypnotize than adults. Studies have shown clinical hypnosis and self-hypnosis to be effective as adjunct treatments for children in pain. Examples include painful medical procedures, such a...

Reprint from American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, III(1), 31-42. A theory of hypnosis stands or falls by its answer to one crucial question: Why do some subjects quickly and easily experience many of the phenomena of hypnosis while other subjects show very little if any hypnotic behavior after many attempts by numerous hypnotists? This paper presents suggestive evidence indicating where an an...