psychology research topics on hypnosis

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The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis: Theory, Research, and Practice

Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Michael R. Nash, PhD, is Professor of Psychology, University of Tennessee.

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The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis is a comprehensive summary of where field of hypnosis has been, where it stands today, and its future directions. The book’s articles on the scientific background to the field, aim to live up to an uncompromising scholarly legacy. In addition, the scope of the book includes seventeen clinical articles which describe how hypnosis is best used with patients across a spectrum of disorders and applied settings.

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Hypnosis as a Therapeutic Tool

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania.

Uses and Potential Benefits

Potential pitfalls.

Hypnosis is a trance-like mental state in which people experience increased attention, concentration, and suggestibility. While hypnosis is often described as a sleep-like state, it is better expressed as a state of focused attention , heightened suggestibility, and vivid fantasies.

People in a hypnotic state often seem sleepy and zoned out, but in reality, they are in a state of hyper-awareness.

While there are many myths and misconceptions, hypnosis is a very real process that can be used as a therapeutic tool. Hypnosis has been shown to have medical and therapeutic benefits, most notably in the reduction of pain and anxiety. It has even been suggested that hypnosis can reduce the symptoms of dementia.

Types of Hypnosis

There are a few different ways that hypnosis can be delivered:

Guided hypnosis : This form of hypnosis involves the use of tools such as recorded instructions and music to induce a hypnotic state. Online sites and mobile apps often utilize this form of hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy : Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis in psychotherapy and is practiced by licensed physicians and psychologists to treat conditions including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , and eating disorders.
Self-hypnosis : Self-hypnosis is a process that occurs when a person self-induces a hypnotic state. It is often used as a self-help tool for controlling pain or managing stress.

Why might a person decide to try hypnosis? In some cases, people might seek out hypnosis to help deal with chronic pain or to alleviate pain and anxiety caused by medical procedures such as surgery or childbirth.

The following are just a few of the applications for hypnosis that have been demonstrated through research:

Alleviation of symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Control of pain during dental procedures
Elimination or reduction of skin conditions including warts and psoriasis
Management of certain symptoms of ADHD
Treatment of chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
Treatment and reduction of pain during childbirth
Reduction of dementia symptoms
Reduction of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Hypnosis has also been used to help people with behavior changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight, or preventing bed-wetting.

Impact of Hypnosis

What impact does hypnosis have? The experience of hypnosis can vary dramatically from one person to another.

Some hypnotized individuals report feeling a sense of detachment or extreme relaxation during the hypnotic state while others even feel that their actions seem to occur outside of their conscious volition. Other individuals may remain fully aware and able to carry out conversations while under hypnosis.

Experiments by researcher Ernest Hilgard demonstrated how hypnosis can be used to dramatically alter perceptions. After instructing a hypnotized individual not to feel pain in their arm, the participant's arm was then placed in ice water. While non-hypnotized individuals had to remove their arm from the water after a few seconds due to the pain, the hypnotized individuals were able to leave their arms in the icy water for several minutes without experiencing pain.

Tips for Hypnosis

While many people think that they cannot be hypnotized, research has shown that a large number of people are more hypnotizable than they believe. Research suggests that:

Between 10% to 15% of people are very responsive to hypnosis.
Approximately 10% of adults are considered difficult or impossible to hypnotize.
Children tend to be more susceptible to hypnosis.
People who can become easily absorbed in fantasies are much more responsive to hypnosis.

If you are interested in being hypnotized, it is important to remember to approach the experience with an open mind. People who view hypnosis in a positive light tend to respond better.

If you are interested in trying hypnotherapy, it is important to look for a professional who has credentials and experience in the use of hypnosis as a therapeutic tool.

While there are many places that offer hypnosis training and certification, it may be helpful to look for a mental health professional who has been certified by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Their program is open to health professionals with a master's degree and requires 40 hours of approved workshop training, 20 hours of individual training, and two years of practice in clinical hypnosis.

Misunderstandings about the subject of hypnosis are common.

While amnesia may occur in very rare cases, people generally remember everything that transpired while they were hypnotized. However, hypnosis can have a significant effect on memory . Posthypnotic amnesia can lead an individual to forget certain things that occurred before or during hypnosis. However, this effect is generally limited and temporary.
While hypnosis can be used to enhance memory, the effects have been dramatically exaggerated in popular media. Research has found that hypnosis does not lead to significant memory enhancement or accuracy, and hypnosis can actually result in false or distorted memories .
Despite stories about people being hypnotized without their consent, hypnosis does require voluntary participation on the part of the patient. People do vary in terms of how hypnotizable and suggestible they are while under hypnosis, however. Research suggests that people who are highly suggestible are more likely to experience a reduced sense of agency while under hypnosis.
While people often feel that their actions under hypnosis seem to occur without the influence of their will, a hypnotist cannot make you perform actions that are against your wishes.
While hypnosis can be used to enhance performance, it cannot make people stronger or more athletic than their existing physical capabilities.

History of Hypnosis

The use of hypnotic-like trance states dates back thousands of years, but hypnosis began to grow during the late 18th-century from the work of a physician named Franz Mesmer. The practice got off to a poor start thanks to Mesmer's mystical views, but interest eventually shifted to a more scientific approach.

Hypnotism became more important in the field of psychology in the late 19th-century and was used by Jean-Martin Charcot to treat women experiencing what was then known as hysteria . This work influenced Sigmund Freud and the development of psychoanalysis .

More recently, there have been a number of different theories to explain exactly how hypnosis works. One of the best-known theories is Hilgard’s neo-dissociation theory of hypnosis.

According to Hilgard, people in a hypnotic state experience a split consciousness in which there are two different streams of mental activity. While one stream of consciousness responds to the hypnotist’s suggestions, another dissociated stream processes information outside of the hypnotized individual's conscious awareness .

Michael H. Hypnotherapy: A Handbook .McGraw-Hill Education (UK); 2012.

Williamson A. What is hypnosis and how might it work? . Palliat Care . 2019;12:1178224219826581. Published 2019 Jan 31. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581

Jensen MP, Jamieson GA, Lutz A, et al. New directions in hypnosis research: Strategies for advancing the cognitive and clinical neuroscience of hypnosis . Neurosci Conscious . 2017;3(1):nix004. doi:10.1093/nc/nix004

Landolt AS, Milling LS. The efficacy of hypnosis as an intervention for labor and delivery pain: A comprehensive methodological review . Clin Psychol Rev . 2011;31(6):1022‐1031. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.06.002

Jensen MP, Patterson DR. Hypnotic approaches for chronic pain management: clinical implications of recent research findings . Am Psychol . 2014;69(2):167-77. doi:10.1037/a0035644

Lush P, Moga G, McLatchie N, Dienes Z. The Sussex-Waterloo Scale of Hypnotizability (SWASH): Measuring capacity for altering conscious experience . Neurosci Conscious . 2018;2018(1):niy006. doi:10.1093/nc/niy006

Smith BL. Hypnosis today . Monitor of Psychology . 2011;42(1):50.

Dasse MN, Elkins GR, Weaver CA 3rd. Hypnotizability, not suggestion, influences false memory development . Int J Clin Exp Hypn . 2015;63(1):110‐128. doi:10.1080/00207144.2014.961880

Terhune DB, Hedman LRA. Metacognition of agency is reduced in high hypnotic suggestibility . Cognition . 2017;168:176‐181. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2017.06.026

Raz CR, Lifshitz M. Hypnosis and Meditation, Towards an Integrative Science of Conscious Planes, " Chapter 12 ." Oxford University Press; 2016.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

5 Myths About Hypnosis, and the Truth

1. no, a person is not under the clinician's total control..

Updated September 1, 2023 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

What Is Hypnosis?
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The practice of hypnosis has been around for many years, yet it is often misunderstood.
Research suggests that hypnosis can help treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, and smoking.
The experience of control during hypnosis depends on the patient's intentions and expectations.

Let’s test your knowledge of hypnosis. Answer the following true/false questions:

Hypnotized participants display blind obedience to the clinician, such that participants respond to suggestions irresistibly.
Hypnosis can help us recall repressed childhood memories and "past life" events.
Hypnosis is a sleep-like trance state of consciousness.
Hypnosis is a state of focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion.
Hypnosis is just fakery and pretending.

The correct answer to all these questions is “false.” How did you do?

Modern hypnosis is said to have started with the work of Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer, who claimed he was using a form of ‘animal magnetism’ on his patients. The term ‘hypnosis’ was introduced in the 1840s by James Braid, a Scottish surgeon who believed hypnosis was a sleeplike trance state. 19th-century French neurologist Jean Charcot, one of Freud ’s mentors, thought hypnotism to be a special physiological state. Freud himself, drawing on the influence of Charcot and of his other mentor, Josef Breuer, used hypnosis early in his career to probe his patients’ unconscious, before opting for the technique of free associations. Later, the influential 20th-century American psychiatrist Milton Erickson used hypnosis as a tool to access the resources of his patients’ unconscious mind while subverting their conscious defenses.

In recent decades, having been brought under the purview of empirical science, the practice of hypnosis has shown itself to be an effective tool in the treatment of a host of mental and physical health problems including anxiety and depression , insomnia , pain , irritable bowel syndrome and smoking . Yet in the popular imagination , hypnosis has retained a somewhat murky reputation, in part because of how it is depicted in movies and other entertainment media: a mind control means for turning people into murderous automatons or making them cluck like chickens. Many myths and misconceptions remain about the technique.

The psychologist Steven Jay Lynn of Binghamton University, who’s been studying hypnosis for decades, has published several recent papers in which he and his colleagues seek to refute some of the popular myths about hypnosis.

A common such myth is that hypnotized people can’t resist suggestions and are compelled to blindly obey the hypnotist ’s suggestions. In fact, however, "people can resist and even oppose hypnotic suggestions. Their experience of control during hypnosis depends on their intentions and expectations regarding whether or not they retain voluntary control.” Lynn and colleagues conclude: “Hypnotized individuals retain control over their actions and can resist hypnotic suggestions.” Hypnosis is not something that is done to you, but something you do.

Another myth is that hypnosis is a “special state” of altered consciousness where one’s defenses are neutralized, allowing entry into one’s subconscious . However, research has failed to support this idea. “People can respond to hypnotic suggestions even while they are alert and on an exercise bicycle… during hypnosis, even the most highly suggestible individuals remain fully conscious and cognizant of their surroundings.” Despite repeated attempts, researchers have not succeeded in finding discrete purported markers of the hypnotic state. Lynn and his colleagues suggest that rather than being a trance state, hypnosis is “a set of procedures in which verbal suggestions are used to modulate awareness, perception, and cognition .”

Many people believe that hypnosis is a sleep-like state (the term hypnosis derives from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep), and that its effects can be attributable to relaxation. However, psychophysiological studies have shown that, unlike sleepers, hypnotized participants remain awake and aware of their surroundings during hypnosis.

Moreover, the effects of hypnosis cannot be attributable to relaxation. Research found that an exercise-based induction was not less effective than a relaxation-based induction. Hypnosis also differs from mindfulness : “Whereas hypnosis steers spontaneous mental activity toward suggested events, mindfulness practice calls for observation of spontaneous thoughts and emotions with an accepting, nonjudgmental attitude.” Research has indicated that, unlike mindfulness practitioners, highly suggestible individuals do not tend to show superior metacognitive ability.

Misunderstandings about hypnosis are not confined to the lay public. The authors note that the American Psychological Association in 2015 defined hypnosis as a state of "focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion." Yet this definition and others do not concur with the evidence. Research has refuted the idea that focused attention is a core feature of hypnosis. When researchers instructed participants to focus attention on imagery and suggestions that directly contradicted the hypnotist’s suggestions, participants continued to respond to suggestions despite focusing attention on incompatible imagery. Lynn and colleagues write : “Highly suggestible participants, who indicated they were deeply hypnotized, nevertheless recounted, almost word for word, a telephone conversation they overheard during hypnosis.”

Much popular fascination around hypnosis centers on the is the idea that it can aid memory and that hypnotized individuals may be able to access long-repressed childhood memories. Indeed, people who have been hypnotized often feel confident that their memories, obtained under hypnosis, are accurate, However, the research has long refuted this notion. Hypnosis does not enhance the reliability of memory.

The psychologist Michael Nash of the University of Tennessee, having reviewed 60 years of empirical studies exploring whether childhood psychological or physiological faculties are reinstated during hypnotic age regression , concluded: “There is no evidence for a literal reinstatement of childhood functioning during hypnotic-age-regression procedures.” In fact , people who are age-regressed to earlier historical times invariably recall details and scenes that are incompatible with factual data from the suggested period. Generally, people’s recollections tend to be consistent with information provided by the experimenters about their supposed past-life experiences and identities. In this way, participants do not actually recall the past; instead, their responses reflect their current expectancies, fantasies , and beliefs about it.

Another popular myth holds that responsiveness to suggestions reflects nothing more than compliance, pretending, or faking. However, “neuroimaging studies reveal that the effects of hypnotic suggestions activate brain regions (e.g., visual processing) consistent with suggested events (e.g., hallucinating an object). These findings provide convincing evidence that hypnotic effects are represented at the neurophysiological level consistent with what people report.” Apparently, many suggestible participants genuinely experience the effects of hypnotic suggestions in an involuntary manner. Michael Nash concluded : “Though often denigrated as fakery or wishful thinking, hypnosis has been shown to be a real phenomenon."

The study of hypnosis, Lynn and colleagues assert , "provides valuable insights into the nature of consciousness, including the role of expectancies, attitudes, imaginings, meta-awareness, and the experience of involuntariness in generating responses to suggested events."

They conclude: "Hypnosis functions as an effective stand-alone or more commonly adjunctive technique that provides clinicians with an efficient, cost-effective, and flexible methodology to alleviate a myriad of psychological and medical conditions, facilitate resilience , and enhance human potential."

Facebook /LinkedIn image: New Africa/Shutterstock

Noam Shpancer, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Otterbein University and a practicing clinical psychologist in Columbus, Ohio.

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Hypnosis is an interaction where a trance state of consciousness is induced and utilized to produce beneficial psychological and physiological changes by suggestions. Used since ancient times, today it is a scientific, highly effective treatment in medicine freed from authoritarian, manipulative and esoteric ...

Keywords : hypnosis, psychotherapy, trance, suggestions, therapeutic communication

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Does Hypnotherapy Really Work? 10+ Scientific Findings

Yet, it is not exceptional.

We regularly find ourselves lost in thought, adrift in music, and immersed in work. The difference is that during hypnotherapy, a therapist guides the client to the new mental state.

Once there, the professional uses hypnosis to help the individual overcome phobias, manage their weight, and better handle stress (American Psychological Association, 2020).

This article explores the science behind the claims of hypnotherapy. We look at existing research areas and uncover how hypnotherapy can help us as therapists improve our clients’ lives.

Before you continue, you might like to download three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

How do hypnosis and hypnotherapy work, what is it used for according to research, does hypnotherapy work 7 scientific findings, using hypnotherapy in counseling: 3 evidence-based results, positivepsychology.com’s relevant resources, a take-home message.

While records go back over 3,000 years, hypnosis was made famous as a medical treatment in the 1700s by Franz Mesmer. M esmerism , as it became known, was later debunked and Mesmer denounced as a fraud (Thomson, 2019).

In the years since, the use of hypnosis by certified hypnotherapists has gained greater acceptance in mainstream healthcare. Research has confirmed its value in treating multiple conditions such as stress, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic pain.

With increasing recognition of the problems caused by opioid addiction, hypnosis offers a practical approach to managing pain with no apparent side effects (Klein, 2018). And new treatments are crucial. The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (2020) reported an average of 41 deaths each day involving prescription opioids in 2018.

But how does hypnosis work ?

While we may have seen hypnotized volunteers acting like chickens on stage, their behavior results from peer pressure and compliance with authority rather than hypnotism (Thomson, 2019). Hypnosis is not a means for taking over someone else’s mind and turning people into something they are not.

Despite varying definitions, the practice of hypnosis often begins with the visualization of a calming image, continues with a deepening procedure, then, finally, introduces affirmations. The treatment can be performed with a trained hypnotherapist’s help, yet it can be equally beneficial through self-hypnosis (Marchant, 2011).

Because of research and improved training and certification, hypnosis is no longer considered a fringe treatment. It is now promoted by the American Psychological Association (2020) as a therapy beneficial for “pain, anxiety, and mood disorders,” while helping people change negative habits such as smoking.

Perhaps surprisingly, hypnosis has been in use since the 1990s as an alternative to general anesthesia. The patient is given mild sedation, such as a local anesthetic, then guided to focus on their inner world and, through breathing techniques, led to a safe place (Thomson, 2019).

So, what happens when people enter this altered state of mind ?

Research suggests there are several stages of hypnosis.

The initial relaxation element of hypnotherapy starts by dampening down the activity of the frontal cortex. Limiting the effectiveness of this area of the brain, central to attention, planning, and making decisions, increases activity in other areas engaged in filtering and integrating information.

We become more open to information, more suggestible, and capable of creating more intense sensations in our minds (Thomson, 2019).

A fascinating study in 2006 found that the brains of hypnotized individuals who were asked to imagine pleasant memories responded as if the experiences were real. The parts of the brain involved in movement and sensation became more active (Faymonville, Boly, & Laureys, 2006).

Combined treatment of anxiety and phobias

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy have both proven successful in treating anxiety. And, as they share the use of both imagery and relaxation, there is the potential for an integrated approach.

When these treatments are combined, cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy (CBH) can improve the management of anxiety disorders and phobias (Golden, 2012).

Research has shown CBH to be successful at treating:

General anxiety disorder
Job interview anxiety
Test anxiety
Airplane phobia
School phobia
Public speaking anxiety
Agoraphobia
Sexual performance anxiety

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Cessation of smoking.

Despite limited scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness, hypnotherapy is popular as a tool for stopping smoking. However, it is unclear whether hypnosis strengthens the will to cease the habit or if it lowers the desire to continue (Barnes, McRobbie, Dong, Walker, & Hartmann-Boyce, 2019).

In their 2019 review including 14 studies and 1,926 participants, Barnes et al. found hypnotherapy interventions to be as effective as other forms of behavioral support six months after treatment.

While hypnotherapy helped people quit, it was unclear whether it was any more beneficial than other approaches.

Managing weight loss

Early research into the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in weight loss and weight management has had mixed findings.

However, a more recent review including seven research studies suggested that hypnotherapy improved weight reduction, benefited participants’ quality of life, and improved eating behavior during and after treatment. One study also identified increased physical activity in the hypnotized group (Barabasz, 2007; Roslim et al., 2020).

While more high-quality research is required to understand the most appropriate therapy interventions and their effectiveness, hypnosis appears to offer a treatment worthy of further attention.

Improving sleep and overcoming sleep disorders

Sleep problems are common in the adult population, affecting learning, cognition, and mental and physical wellbeing.

Hypnosis, in addition to being useful for treating pain and relieving cancer treatment side effects, is also a promising standalone treatment for sleep disturbance, potentially avoiding the need for pharmacological intervention (Chamine, Atchley, & Oken, 2018).

Research comparing multiple intervention strategies, including sleep hygiene, relaxation, mindfulness, and hypnotherapy, found that CBT was an effective treatment. However, because of hypnotherapy’s promising results (improving both sleep and mental health), researchers suggest combining approaches to maximize the benefits (Friedrich & Schlarb, 2017).

Hypnotherapy for alcoholism

While hypnotherapy is used as a treatment for ongoing addiction to alcohol, there is limited research to confirm its effectiveness.

However, a 2019 study involving a six-week-long intervention with both group therapy and individual therapy sessions found hypnosis to be as effective as motivational interviewing in patients with long-term histories of alcohol abuse.

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While some scientists still regard hypnosis with mistrust, it has proven useful in clinical settings and insightful in research into mental processes such as “sensation, perception, learning, memory, and physiology” (Faymonville et al., 2006).

Hypnosis is seen as a heightened state of attention, concentration, and inner absorption, with reduced awareness of external stimuli.

And such immersion is not unique to hypnotic states. Most of us have experienced deep engagement with a task at hand and failed to notice time passing and light fading.

Hypnosis, however, requires three components (Faymonville et al., 2006):

Absorption – to become fully involved in the imaginative experience
Dissociation – the separation of behavioral components typically processed together, such as being both an actor and an observer
Suggestibility – the increased tendency to “comply with hypnotic instructions”

While hypnotherapy appears promising as a treatment for multiple issues that determine physical and psychological health, much of the research seems flawed because of poor trial design. Therefore, further high-quality studies are required to better understand its potential to improve chronic pain, depression, sleep, and eating disorders (Chamine et al., 2018).

So, does hypnotherapy really work ?

Yes, science has confirmed that hypnotherapy can change our perception and behavior.

Sense of who we are

A perceptual illusion highlights how our susceptibility to being hypnotized affects our self-perception.

In a famous experiment known as the rubber hand illusion , participants watch a rubber hand being stroked while their own remains hidden. Surprisingly, the individual feels a sense of ownership over the clearly fake hand.

When the experiment was reproduced, it was found that those more easily hypnotized had an increased degree of ownership of the rubber hand and a more modifiable sense of body image (Fiorio, Modenese, & Cesari, 2020).

Validation of hypnotherapy as a treatment

Increasingly, research has shown the critical role that hypnosis can play in treating psychological and physiological problems including the following conditions:

Hypnotized volunteers are up to 50% more capable of handling painful stimuli (Faymonville et al., 2006). Scans reveal that hypnosis can lower activity in the brain’s anterior cingulate cortex, linking sensory stimuli to emotional and behavioral responses, and switch off pain signals.

Some studies suggest that hypnosis is more effective than standard medical care when used to reduce pain during labor and childbirth (Landolt & Milling, 2011).

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal disorders have a significant impact on the quality of life of children. And despite being recognized as the product of the interaction of mind–brain–gut, standard medical treatments offer little relief.

However, hypnosis, particularly when explained to the patient before treatment to build trust, appears to reduce pain perception successfully (Mahler, 2015).

Dermatological

Hypnosis is also proving successful as a treatment for skin disorders and has been used in dermatology to reduce habits such as scratching while promoting healing.

Without side effects, such treatment, along with meditation and biofeedback, can have positive results where others have failed (Shenefelt, 2017).

Hypnosis is increasingly used as a treatment for depression and is as effective at relieving symptoms of depression as psychological interventions attempting to treat patterns of distorted cognition (Milling, Valentine, McCarley, & LoStimolo, 2018).

Hypnosis appears to help in several ways. By reducing the symptoms, it helps build coping skills, shifts focus from feelings to thoughts, and can help reframe difficult situations.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have shown their worth in therapy, particularly in the successful treatment of phobias. When combined with hypnosis, VR and AR appear to improve the outcome of treatments for stress. They offer an exciting field for research and the potential for new treatment protocols (Zhao, You, Shi, & Gan, 2015).

Hypnosis offers practical and beneficial opportunities for helping patients undergoing treatment for cancer.

When given during the perioperative period, between deciding to have surgery and the procedure itself, hypnotherapy has been shown to reduce pre-op distress, anxiety, and postoperative pain.

Not only is it inexpensive, but it improves patient comfort and reduces recovery time from anesthesia (Potié, Roelants, Pospiech, Momeni, & Watremez, 2016; Faymonville et al., 2006).

Mindful hypnotherapy

Despite mindfulness being a useful intervention for anxiety and stress, it can be time intensive and does not have superior results to CBT (Olendzki, Elkins, Slonena, Hung, & Rhodes, 2020).

Therefore, combined treatments may be more effective, requiring fewer and shorter sessions.

“Mindfulness targets a shift in the relationship toward experience, whereas the target of hypnosis is a shift in the experience itself,” says Nicholas Olendzki. Yet, they both offer the experience of an enhanced body connection through focus and imagery.

When combined as mindful hypnotherapy , participants reported the “intervention to be highly palatable and their adherence to home practice was exceptional.” The new combined technique also leads to a significant reduction in perceived stress (Olendzki et al., 2020).

Cognitive hypnotherapy

When combined with other psychotherapies , hypnotherapy has varying degrees of success, writes Assen Alladin (2012) from the University of Calgary, Canada.

Instead, the assimilative model of psychotherapy keeps psychotherapy central while incorporating other techniques to create fresh approaches. For example, cognitive hypnotherapy (CH) uses both imagery and relaxation, combining hypnotherapy and psychotherapy benefits .

Compared with nonhypnotic treatment, CH was found to be more successful, particularly for weight management (Alladin, 2012).

Post-traumatic stress disorder results from major traumatic events and can profoundly affect quality of life.

Mounting evidence suggests that hypnotherapy can provide better immediate and long-term relief from symptoms such as re-experiencing traumatic memories than psychotherapy alone (Rotaru & Rusu, 2015).

Hypnosis, finally explained – Ben Cale

Our toolkit offers valuable therapy worksheets , exercises, and tools for visualization, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques.

The Five Senses Worksheet outlines a useful technique for cultivating mindfulness in moments where formal mindfulness practice such as meditation might not be practical and can facilitate relaxation similar to the first steps of hypnotherapy.
Anchor Breathing promotes relaxation by extending inhalation and exhalation to reduce respiration frequency while maximizing the amount of oxygen in the blood.
The Self-Talk Exercise helps prevent self-criticism that typically reinforces negative events and instead encourages us to accept our imperfections.
Clients can assess the extent to which they struggle or accept their negative feelings and thoughts with this Thoughts and Feelings – Struggle or Acceptance exercise.
The Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale is useful for uncovering our psychological needs and connecting to the emotional reactions faced during a difficult life situation.

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Although controversial, hypnosis is now widely accepted as a technique for helping people change their habits, manage pain, overcome phobias, and deal with depression and anxiety (Milling et al., 2018).

Using techniques designed for deep relaxation and focus encourages susceptibility to hypnotic instructions. Affirmations can guide clients to change unhelpful ways of thinking or manage unwanted sensations such as pain.

The trance-like state is not unnatural and can exist outside of hypnosis during times of extreme focus. Yet, despite on-stage stunts, it cannot make people do things beyond their will.

Hypnotherapy is considered a safe practice when performed by trained practitioners and is becoming more mainstream in treating physical and mental health (Thomson, 2019).

According to considerable recent research, guided hypnosis appears valuable in clinical settings, and self-hypnosis appears equally effective at managing conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (Marchant, 2011).

While hypnotherapy works as a standalone treatment, it combines effortlessly with other forms of therapy. Therefore, hypnosis can form part of any toolkit of therapies for mental wellbeing practitioners to help clients with conditions that have so far been untreatable (Whorwell, 2008).

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

Alladin, A. (2012). Cognitive hypnotherapy: A new vision and strategy for research and practice. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis , 54 (4), 249–262.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Hypnosis . Retrieved January 4, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/topics/hypnosis
Barabasz, M. (2007). Efficacy of hypnotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis , 55 (3), 318–335.
Barnes, J., McRobbie, H., Dong, C. Y., Walker, N., & Hartmann-Boyce, J. (2019). Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , 6 (6).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Overdose death maps . Retrieved January 4, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/prescribing/overdose-death-maps.html
Chamine, I., Atchley, R., & Oken, B. S. (2018). Hypnosis intervention effects on sleep outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine , 14 (2), 271–283.
Faymonville, M. E., Boly, M., & Laureys, S. (2006). Functional neuroanatomy of the hypnotic state. Journal of Physiology-Paris , 99 (4–6), 463–469.
Fiorio, M., Modenese, M., & Cesari, P. (2020). The rubber hand illusion in hypnosis provides new insights into the sense of body ownership. Scientific Reports , 10 (1).
Friedrich, A., & Schlarb, A. A. (2017). Let’s talk about sleep: A systematic review of psychological interventions to improve sleep in college students. Journal of Sleep Research , 27 (1), 4–22.
Golden, W. L. (2012). Cognitive hypnotherapy for anxiety disorders. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis , 54 (4), 263–274.
Klein, A. (2018). Opioid crisis: Powerful but non-addictive drug could replace morphine. New Scientist . Retrieved January 4, 2021, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2178001-opioid-crisis-powerful-but-non-addictive-drug-could-replace-morphine/
Landolt, A. S., & Milling, L. S. (2011). The efficacy of hypnosis as an intervention for labor and delivery pain: A comprehensive methodological review. Clinical Psychology Review , 31 (6), 1022–1031.
Mahler, T. (2015). Education and hypnosis for treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in pediatrics. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis , 58 (1), 115–128.
Marchant, J. (2011). Heal thyself: Self-hypnosis. New Scientist . Retrieved January 3, 2021, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21128272-000-heal-thyself-self-hypnosis/
Milling, L. S., Valentine, K. E., McCarley, H. S., & LoStimolo, L. M. (2018). A meta-analysis of hypnotic interventions for depression symptoms: High hopes for hypnosis? American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis , 61 (3), 227–243.
Olendzki, N., Elkins, G. R., Slonena, E., Hung, J., & Rhodes, J. R. (2020). Mindful hypnotherapy to reduce stress and increase mindfulness: A randomized controlled pilot study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis , 68 (2), 151–166.
Potié, A., Roelants, F., Pospiech, A., Momeni, M., & Watremez, C. (2016). Hypnosis in the perioperative management of breast cancer surgery: Clinical benefits and potential implications. Anesthesiology Research and Practice , 2016 , 1–8.
Rotaru, T. Ș., & Rusu, A. (2015). A meta-analysis for the efficacy of hypnotherapy in alleviating PTSD symptoms. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis , 64 (1), 116–136.
Roslim, N. A., Ahmad, A., Mansor, M., Aung, M. M. T., Hamzah, F., Hassan, H., & Lua, P. L. (2020). Hypnotherapy for overweight and obese patients: A narrative review. Journal of Integrative Medicine .
Shenefelt, P. D. (2017). Use of hypnosis, meditation, and biofeedback in dermatology. Clinics in Dermatology , 35 (3), 285–291.
Shestopal, I., & Bramness, J. G. (2019). Effect of hypnotherapy in alcohol use disorder compared with motivational interviewing. Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment , 18 (3), 169–175.
Thomson, H. (2019). What hypnosis does to your brain, and how it can improve your health. New Scientist. Retrieved January 3, 2021, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432550-600-what-hypnosis-does-to-your-brain-and-how-it-can-improve-your-health/
Whorwell, P. J. (2008). Hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: The response of colonic and noncolonic symptoms. Journal of Psychosomatic Research , 64 (6), 621–623.
Zhao, X., You, X., Shi, C., & Gan, S. (2015). Hypnosis therapy using augmented reality technology: Treatment for psychological stress and anxiety. Behaviour & Information Technology , 34 (6), 646–653.

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What our readers think.

This article is an eye-opener! It’s fantastic to see the scientific findings backing the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. The historical context and debunking of the earlier Mesmerism myth add a fascinating layer to the discussion.

Can i cite this article for an assignment in my psych class

Absolutely! Please use this reference:

Sutton, J. (2021). Does Hypnotherapy Really Work? 10+ Scientific Findings. Retrieved from https://https://positivepsychology.com/hypnotherapy/

Best of luck!

Kind regards, -Caroline | Community Manager

I see citations in the text but no references. Can you add the corresponding references to the article? Thank you!

If you scroll to the very end of the article, you will find a button that you can click to reveal the reference list.

Hope this helps!

– Nicole | Community Manager

I’m a professional hypnotist and I appreciated your article Jeremy Sutton PhD, and your responses, Nicole Celestine PhD.

I am a biased cheerleader and practitioner of this amazing modality for 15 years. My clients have often had profound life-changing transformations in various syndromes and issues in their lives.

I worked with my first Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) two days ago. She has suffered constantly with this for over fifteen years, I think she told me. At the end of our first session she said, “It seems to be ‘trying’ to happen, but it is not happening”. The next day I checked in and it was almost not happening all day at the time of our call. It had been a ‘#9’ on a 10 point scale of pain, bothersome, pressure, irritation, in the way of day-to-day life, etc. It was a “2 or 3” that day after. This is anecdotal, not scientific and VERY short-term, I realize. But with fifteen + years of experience I, in my mind, am predicting we can rid her of this problem in a few more sessions. Past experience shows me I must take into consideration quite of few things and it’s not a given at this early stage. But, when I see changes like this, it usually spells major transformation of the former condition for the client. Would like to talk to any of you who do this research and are more familiar with the science research and studies in this area.

I listen to hypnotherapy downloads, but I fall asleep! Am I still benefiting from this or should I make a conscious effort to stay awake?

That’s a great question. It seems your unconscious mind is not as receptive to the benefits of the recordings when asleep. However, it can actually be quite difficult to tell the difference between a trance-like state caused by hypnosis and falling asleep because (like when you’re sleeping) you experience amnesia.

I’d have a read of this article for some thoughts on this: https://hypguru.com/falling-asleep-during-hypnosis/

How can I find a reputable hypnotherapist in the USA?

Psychology Today has a great directory you can use to find therapists in your local area. Usually, the therapists provide a summary in their profile with their areas of expertise and types of issues they are used to working with.

I hope this helps.

But this list is not a list of hypnotherapist but rather a list of therapists. Some of whom MAY or may not practice Hypnotherapy….we need a list of reputable Hypnotherapists.

Hi William,

via Psychology Today you can later specify what exactly you are looking for. Once you have entered your area you can specify in “Types of Therapy” to look for Hypnotherapists.

Hope this helps! Kind regards, Julia | Community Manager

Hi, It would be greatly appreciated if the actual references appeared after this article.

Hi Chelsea,

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Dtsch Arztebl Int
v.113(17); 2016 Apr

The Efficacy, Safety and Applications of Medical Hypnosis

Winfried häuser.

1 Department of Internal Medicine I, Klinikum Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken and Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich

2 Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich

Albrecht Schmierer

3 Dental Practice Schmierer & Kratzenstein, Stuttgart

Ernil Hansen

4 Department of Anesthesiology, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg

The efficacy and safety of hypnotic techniques in somatic medicine, known as medical hypnosis, have not been supported to date by adequate scientific evidence.

We systematically reviewed meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of medical hypnosis. Relevant publications (January 2005 to June 2015) were sought in the Cochrane databases CDSR and DARE, and in PubMed. Meta-analyses involving at least 400 patients were included in the present analysis. Their methodological quality was assessed with AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews). An additional search was carried out in the CENTRAL and PubMed databases for RCTs of waking suggestion (therapeutic suggestion without formal trance induction) in somatic medicine.

Out of the 391 publications retrieved, five were reports of meta-analyses that met our inclusion criteria. One of these meta-analyses was of high methodological quality; three were of moderate quality, and one was of poor quality. Hypnosis was superior to controls with respect to the reduction of pain and emotional stress during medical interventions (34 RCTs, 2597 patients) as well as the reduction of irritable bowel symptoms (8 RCTs, 464 patients). Two meta-analyses revealed no differences between hypnosis and control treatment with respect to the side effects and safety of treatment. The effect size of hypnosis on emotional stress during medical interventions was low in one meta-analysis, moderate in one, and high in one. The effect size on pain during medical interventions was low. Five RCTs indicated that waking suggestion is effective in medical procedures.

Medical hypnosis is a safe and effective complementary technique for use in medical procedures and in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Waking suggestions can be a component of effective doctor–patient communication in routine clinical situations.

Hypnosis for purposes of medical treatment goes back a long way. The British Medical Association endorsed the use of hypnosis in somatic medicine in 1955, on the basis of case reports and series backed up by expert consensus, and the American Medical Association followed suit in 1958 ( 1 , 2 ). Whether robust evidence exists for the efficacy and safety of hypnosis in somatic medicine in the era of evidence-based medicine (EBM) ( 3 ) remains to be clarified. Because systematic reviews with quantitative analysis (meta-analyses) of randomized controlled trials provide the highest level of evidence in EBM ( 3 ), we decided to carry out a systematic review of meta-analyses on medical hypnosis.

The aims of this article are as follows:

To define the various forms of hypnosis
To describe the requirements that have to be fulfilled before therapeutic hypnosis can be carried out
To provide a historical overview of the use of hypnosis in medicine and the assessment of its efficacy
To identify the indications for medical hypnosis supported by robust evidence
To present the evidence for use of positive suggestions as a component of effective doctor– patient communication.

Definitions

The term “hypnosis” is used to mean both an altered state of consciousness (synonym: hypnotic trance) and the procedure by which this state is induced ( 4 ). During a hypnotic trance physiological, cognitive, and affective processes as well as behavior can be modified. A hypnotic state and hypnotic phenomena can be induced by another person (therapist) or alone (self-hypnosis). The subjective experience of hypnosis is characterized by a high degree of authenticity (experienced as real) and involuntariness (“it happens by itself”) ( 4 ).

Hypnosis can be distinguished from other states of consciousness such as normal wakefulness, sleep, deep relaxation, or meditation by means of electroencephalography (EEG) and imaging modalities ( 4 ). A hypnotic trance is characterized by a number of physiological and mental reactions, e.g., altered perception of time, selective amnesia, regression to a younger age (retrieval of memories or experiences from an earlier developmental stage), a marked inward focus, and heightened suggestibility, i.e., a stronger reaction to suggestions ( 4 ). In clinical situations associated with high affective participation of the patient, such as emergencies, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, or communication of a serious diagnosis, hypnotic phenomena may occur spontaneously ( e1 , e2 ).

Suggestions work via verbal and nonverbal signals that correspond to internal expectations and have a powerful effect on mental and involuntary somatic processes. For example, cutaneous perfusion or the flow of saliva is not amenable to influence by a deliberate intellectual action, but can be affected by a suggestion, e.g., a picture or a story. In general use the word “suggestion” tends to imply manipulation, but in hypnosis it should be understood as meaning a proposal, an offer of options (“I suggest”). In contrast to the widespread preconceptions, hypnosis is not authoritarian, passive, and centered around the therapist, but a resource- and solution-oriented method in which the focus is on the patient’s own potentials ( 4 ).

Applications of hypnosis

Depending on the goals, various applications of hypnotic techniques can be distinguished ( 4 ):

Alleviation of somatic symptoms
Reduction of mental stress during medical treatment
Amelioration of disordered physiological/biochemical parameters
Facilitation of physiological/biochemical healing processes
Waking suggestions (suggestions without trance induction)
Suggestions with the patient under general anesthesia
Use of findings from hypnotherapy for effective doctor–patient communication
Improvement of problem management by giving the patient access to their own resources
Facilitation of changes in behavior
Restructuring (minimization, reinforcement, new conditioning) of cognitive–affective patterns
Restructuring of emotionally stressful events and sensations
Reintegration of non-accessible (dissociated) feelings
Basic research on somatic sensations (e.g., pain), emotions, and states of consciousness
Demonstration of hypnotic phenomena to entertain an audience

The perception of hypnosis as an authoritarian, manipulative technique, nourished particularly by its use in stage shows, represents the greatest barrier to the (re)integration of hypnosis into medical treatment.

Phases of medical hypnosis

A session of medical hypnosis generally lasts between 20 and 50 min and can be divided into various phases ( 4 ):

- Verification of the indication; explanation (correction of inappropriate anxiety or false expectations); definition of goal(s)

Consolidation
Therapeutic suggestions
Reorientation, posthypnotic suggestions
Integration into daily routine: use of an audio file at home; behavioral exercises (e.g., exposure training); possibly learning of self-hypnosis techniques.

A selection of broadcasts (mostly in German) publicly available on the internet can be found in eBox 1 .

Selection of German-language videos and podcasts from public broadcasters on medical hypnosis

Hypnosis in irritable bowel syndrome (gut-directed hypnosis): www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjBHaKq8B_g (6 min)

Medical hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain and in surgery: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdLQvrl84hU Plastic surgery, dental treatment (12 min)

The power of hypnosis: http://www.daserste.de/information/wissen-kultur/w-wie-wissen/videos/die-kraft-der-hypnose-100.html Dental treatment, brain MRI showing how hypnosis alleviates pain, brain surgery with the patient awake (7 min)

Medicine: The healing power of the psyche: http://www.swr.de/odysso/medizin-die-heilkraft-der-psyche/-/id=1046894/did=14145774/nid=1046894/wrks2i/index.html Documentary on healing thoughts; the importance of waking suggestions and a positive attitude for the success of heart surgery (46 min)

Hypnosis instead of general anesthesia: http://www.swr.de/odysso/hypnose-statt-vollnarkose/-/id=1046894/did=7345782/nid=1046894/3hlrni/index.html The anesthesia technique of hypnosedation, successfully used in over 8000 surgical patients in Belgium. This technique combines hypnosis with very light sedation and local anesthesia; the patient remains awake.

How negative thinking makes us ill: www1.wdr.de/mediathek/video/sendungen/planet-wissen-wdr/video-wie-uns-negative-gedanken-krank-machen-100.html Video about placebo and nocebo effects (58 min)

Hypnosis instead of anesthesia: www.3sat.de/mediathek/?display=1&mode=play&obj=30167 Maxillary surgery on hypnosedated patients (5 min)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJAnCLIBBus&feature=youtu.be Surgery with hypnosis instead of anesthesia; experimental pain; brain MRI showing how hypnosis alleviates pain (11 min)

Hypnosis to counteract fear of the dentist: www.ardmediathek.de/tv/alles-wissen/Hypnose-gegen-Zahnarztphobie/hr-fernsehen/Video?documentId=29814680&bcastId=3416170 Dental treatment, brain MRI showing how hypnosis alleviates pain (6 min)

Hypnotherapy: trance induction to combat anxiety and pain: www.ardmediathek.de/radio/SWR2-Wissen/Hypnotherapie-Trance-als-Mittel-gegen-%C3%84/SWR2/Audio-Podcast?documentId=28528316&bcastId=220656 (27 min)

Formal requirements

In Israel and Sweden, hypnosis may be carried out only by physicians and psychologists who have received appropriate training. In Germany, from the legal point of view, anyone can offer hypnosis for non-medical reasons. Treatment of illness by means of hypnosis requires a license to perform procedures for the purpose of healing (medical and psychological psychotherapists, child and adolescent psychotherapists, naturopaths) ( e3 ). Medical hypnosis can be carried out by physicians of all patient-related specialties in the framework of basic psychosomatic care. An invoice for relaxation hypnosis according to the official German schedules for physicians’ fees (Uniform Value Scale, Einheitlicher Bewertungsmaßstab ) can be submitted only by persons who possess a qualification in basic psychosomatic care and have successfully completed a course in hypnosis comprising two units of 16 hours each ( e4 ). Most medical and psychological psychotherapists and child and adolescent psychotherapists learn the techniques of hypnotherapy as a supplementary qualification. As a rule hypnotherapists are also trained in other methods of psychotherapy.

Details of the history of hypnosis and assessment of its efficacy prior to the introduction of evidence-based medicine (EBM) are provided in eBox 2 .

The history of hypnosis and assessment of its efficacy before the advent of evidence-based medicine (EBM)

Owing to their unconventional approach, hypnosis techniques attracted the attention of both orthodox physicians and the general public at an early stage. The scientific basis of hypnotic procedures was investigated as early as the 18 th century.

The theory and techniques of “animal magnetism,” put forward by the Viennese physician Franz Anton Mesmer, are viewed as the precursor of modern hypnosis. Mesmer failed in his attempt to have animal magnetism accredited by the Académie des Sciences in Paris in 1784 ( e5 ). The scientific committee appointed by King Louis XVI refuted the theory of magnetism and attributed Mesmer’s successful treatments to psychological mechanisms, namely the “arousal of powers of imagination and of imitation” ( e6 ). The concept of magnetism persisted, however, and came to be adopted by a number of physicians. The English surgeon James Esdaile (1808–1859), working in India, carried out 345 major operations (amputations of arm, leg, breast, and penis, as well as excision of tumors) using the technique of “mesmerism” and recorded not only good analgesia but also low mortality ( e7 ). The British physician John Elliotson (1791–1868) became professor at the University of London in 1831. Under pressure from the journal Lancet , which rejected his practice of animal magnetism, he resigned his post in 1838. From 1843 to 1856 he published a journal called The Zoist , dedicated exclusively to animal magnetism. However, this technique rapidly receded into the background with the introduction of ether and chloroform anesthesia in 1846/47 ( e3 ).

The Scottish ophthalmologist Braid developed the theory of monoideism, whereby concentration on a single thought by means of optic fixation was held to lead to a neurologically conditioned state of sleep. This physiological explanation of hypnotic phenomena helped “hypnotism” attain recognition by physicians at a time when medicine was developing along scientific lines ( e3 ). In 1891 the British Medical Association (BMA) commissioned a group of physicians to investigate hypnotism. After due appraisal the expert committee concluded that hypnotism was effective in the treatment of pain, sleep disorders, and functional symptoms. At its annual conference in 1892 the BMA unanimously recommended the therapeutic application of hypnosis ( e8 ).

With the increasing importance of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in the 20 th and 21 st centuries, advocates and practitioners of clinical hypnosis came to see the necessity of controlled trials and synthesis of the findings in systematic reviews. The first German-language systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of hypnosis was published in 2002 ( e9 ). An expert report on evaluation of hypnotherapy as a psychotherapeutic technique according to the criteria of the German Scientific Advisory Committee on Psychotherapy ( Wissenschaftlicher Beirat Psychotherapie ) (§ 11, Psychotherapy Act) was produced in 2003 ( e3 ). The Scientific Advisory Committee on Psychotherapy concluded that hypnotherapy can be considered a scientifically valid technique for the treatment, in adults, of mental and social factors in somatic diseases and of addiction and abuse (smoking cessation and methadone withdrawal) (ICD-10 F54, F10, F11) ( e10 ).

Evidence for efficacy and safety

This review was conducted according to the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration for systematic reviews of previously published reviews and the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute for umbrella reviews ( 6 ).

Systematic survey of the literature

The Cochrane databases CDSR and DARE and PubMed were searched for systematic reviews (SRs) published in the period January 2005 to June 2015. The following search terms were used: “review,” “meta-analysis,” and “hypnosis”. We searched PubMed with “((“hypnosis”[MeSH] OR “hypnosis, dental”[MeSH]) AND (“meta-Analysis” [Publication Type] OR “review” [Publication Type])) OR ((hypnosis OR hypnotherap * ) AND (meta-analy * OR metaanaly * ))”. Moreover, the reference lists of the SRs identified were inspected for further SRs. With regard to waking suggestions we searched the databases CENTRAL and PubMed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using the terms “suggestion” [MeSH] and “hypnotic suggestion”. Finally, for all topics we asked experts in medical hypnosis about SRs.

Inclusion criteria

The following conditions regarding study type, indications, setting, and study population had to be fulfilled:

Study type: We included SRs with meta-analysis of (quasi-)RCTs on hypnosis as intervention for somatic medical indications. In the event of serial publications by the same group of authors we used the most recent publication. We selected inclusion of at least 400 patients in quantitative analysis (meta-analysis) of the study results as a quantitative criterion of robust evidence ( 7 ).

Indications: The endpoints of the meta-analysis had to be somatic symptoms (e.g., pain or nausea) or physiological findings (e.g., bleeding time or airway resistance) and/or mental stress during medical treatments and/or cost-related data (e.g., operating time, legth of hospital stay, or drug consumption). We excluded meta-analyses of RCTs on psychiatric and psychotherapeutic indications (e.g., anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, addiction/abuse, or behavioral disorders) and meta-analyses of RCTs on various diseases (e.g., psychosomatic illnesses) in which no subgroup analyses were conducted for individual diseases.

Setting and study population: No restrictions were imposed with regard to setting, age, or country.

Methodological quality

The methodological quality of the meta-analyses was verified using AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) ( 8 ). AMSTAR scores of 0–4 were classified as low, 5–8 as intermediate, and 9–11 as high methodological quality ( 9 ).

Data extraction

The following characteristics of the meta-analyses were extracted independently by two of the authors (WH, MH) and discrepancies were resolved by consensus:

The medical indication
The number of RCTs/patients included
The age and sex of the patients
The type and duration of hypnosis
The nature of the control group
The instrument for and results of measurement of methodological quality of the included RCTs
The databases searched and the period covered
The findings regarding efficacy, tolerance, and safety
The authors’ conclusions
The AMSTAR rating.

Given the heterogeneity of diseases and outcome variables, no quantitative data synthesis was planned from the outset.

Results: survey and inclusion

The database survey and the hand search identified 391 publications in total. Seventy-seven full texts were examined in detail ( Figure ). Fourteen meta-analyses (on topics such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, fibromyalgia syndrome, and temporomandibular disorder) were excluded from analysis because they included fewer than 400 patients in their calculations ( eTable 1 ) ( e11 – e24 ). Five meta-analyses were included in our qualitative review ( 10 – 14 ). The methodological quality was high in one meta-analysis, intermediate in three, and low in one ( eTable 2 ). The characteristics of the original articles investigated in these five meta-analyses are outlined in Table 1 .

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Object name is Dtsch_Arztebl_Int-113-0289_001.jpg

Results of the literature survey

* The meta-analyses are listed in alphabetical order

* In alphabetical order RCTs. randomized controlled trials

* a priori design: protocol. internal review board approval. or research question previously published?

AMSTAR. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews

Results: efficacy and safety

Hypnosis was superior to standard treatment or attention control (controls) in reduction of emotional stress, ( 10 , 13 , 14 ), pain ( 10 , 14 ), duration of convalescence, and drug consumption ( 10 ) in interventional procedures and operations. The effect size on emotional stress varied: it was slight in one meta-analysis ( 10 ), intermediate in another ( 14 ), and high in a third ( 13 ). The effect size on pain reduction was low ( 10 , 14 ). The effect sizes of hypnosis in medical interventions were dependent on the methodological quality of the original studies ( 10 , 14 ).

Gut-directed hypnosis was superior to the treatments used in the control groups with regard to the number of patients with an appropriate reduction of symptoms at the end of treatment (number needed to treat [NNT] 5) and at follow-up 6 months later (NNT 3) ( 12 ). Hypnosis was not more effective than standard treatment or attention control for pain during labor and childbirth ( 11 ).

Evaluation of the data on safety of hypnosis in two meta-analyses (pain during labor and childbirth, irritable bowel syndrome) ( 11 , 12 ) revealed no signs of a higher rate of adverse effects than in controls ( Table 2 ).

* The meta-analyses are listed in alphabetical order CI. confidence interval; ns. not significant; p. probability; RR. relative risk; SMD. standardized mean difference; NNT. number needed to treat

Discussion of the results can be found in eBox 3 .

Discussion of the findings concerning the evidence of the efficacy of medical hypnosis

Three meta-analyses (( 10 , ( 13 , ( 14 ) of the use of hypnosis in medical interventions fulfilled our criterion of including at least 400 patients. If these meta-analyses were to be based largely on the same original studies, the evidence could be overestimated. Indeed, inspection revealed the following overlapping of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included: Kekecs et al. ( 10 ) and Tefikow et al. ( 14 ): N = 12; Kekecs et al. ( 10 ) and Schnur et al. ( 13 ): N = 8; Schnur et al. ( 13 ) and Tefikow et al. ( 14 ): N = 10. At least 50% of the RCTs in each of the three meta-analyses were also included in one or both of the others (Kekecs et al.: 16 of 26; Tefikow et al.: 18 of 34; Schnur et al.: 13 of 26). Nevertheless, each of the three covered an appreciable number of original studies that were not featured in the others. This can be explained by the variation in focus: Kekecs et al. ( 10 ) and Tefikow et al. ( 14 ) restricted themselves to studies on adults, while Schnur et al. ( 13 ) also included children. Whereas Schnur et al. ( 13 ) confined themselves to “emotional stress” as endpoint, Kekecs et al. ( 10 ) and Tefikow et al. ( 14 ) each calculated several effect sizes for several outcome variables, with Kekecs et al. ( 10 ) concentrating solely on postoperative endpoints. Therefore, since differentiated conclusions can certainly be drawn, we chose to present the results of all three meta-analyses of medical hypnosis in diagnostic, interventional, and surgical procedures.

Recommendations on the use of medical hypnosis in medical procedures are limited, however, by the poor methodological quality of many original studies. Moreover, on statistical criteria the effect strengths were mostly low. Blinding of the therapists and the patients is usually not possible (intervention bias) in RCTs with hypnosis (and other psychological techniques). In fact, at least in some studies in which audio files were used for hypnosis the medical personnel or diagnosticians were blinded, which is associated with conservative effect sizes ( 10 , 14 ). Therefore, using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool the danger of bias is higher in RCTs that use psychological techniques than in RCTs where medications are administered. Two of the three systematic reviews of hypnosis in medical procedures point to low or uncertain quality of the existing RCTs and recommend that further studies with high-quality methodology should be carried out ( 10 , 14 ). Because the original studies reported only average data and no response rates (e.g., the proportion of patients with only slight postoperative pain or no postoperative nausea), the meta-analyses could not calculate the number needed to treat for an additional benefit (NNTB). The clinical benefit of medical hypnosis in interventions is therefore difficult to estimate.

The quality of the data is better for irritable bowel syndrome: the risk of bias was low in most of the studies included ( 12 ). Response rates with a clinically meaningful benefit (NNT 5 and 3 respectively) were computed for adequate symptom reduction at the end of treatment and at 6-month follow-up. With regard to these NNTs, it should be remembered that most of the RCTs included patients who had shown insufficient reduction of symptoms in response to an established regimen of medication ( 12 ).

Applications of hypnosis in daily clinical practice

Preparation and performance of interventions.

Anesthesia and surgery: The use of hypnosis instead of local anesthesia in dental surgery ( e25 ) and in place of anesthesia for more extensive surgery (cholecystectomy, aortocoronary bypass operation) has been described in case reports ( e26 ). However, hypnosis is being routinely used as a complement rather than an alternative to modern, safe techniques of anesthesia, primarily to minimize anxiety and stress. Hypnosis has been shown to reduce pain, anxiety, and the consumption of analgesics and sedatives to a statistically significant extent in patients undergoing operations under local or regional anesthesia ( e27 , e28 ).

An example of the efficacy of hypnotic communication—even without formal trance induction—is its application in waking craniotomies, as performed for instance for removal of a brain tumor close to the speech area or for deep brain stimulation. In these procedures the patient receives regional anesthesia of the head and remains awake for the whole duration of the brain surgery for purposes of neurological testing, with no need for sedation and additional analgesia. Dissociation to an inner place of tranquility away from the operating room plays an important part, as does the reinterpretation of sensory perceptions ( e29 ).

Some German hospitals offer live or audio file–aided hypnosis as a complement to general and regional anesthesia.

Gastroenterology: With the aid of hypnosis—e.g., self-hypnosis or hypnosis by means of audio files— diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures can be carried out without sedation ( e30 ). The use of audio files is also efficacious in irritable bowel syndrome ( e31 ). These files can be given to patients with irritable bowel syndrome by their primary care physician or internist, and the progress with regard to symptom control can be discussed with the patients in the framework of basic psychosomatic care ( e32 ). This aproach can greatly facilitate the clinical application of hypnosis. Gastroenterology departments in Great Britain ( e33 ), Austria ( e34 ), and the USA ( e35 ) have integrated psychosocial services that offer live and audio file–aided hypnosis to patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders who do not respond well to conventional medicinal treatment (see eBox 1 for more on gut-directed hypnosis). Some office-based gastroenterologists in Germany offer hypnosis as an alternative to sedation in esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

Dentistry: The German Dental Hypnosis Society ( Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zahnärztliche Hypnose ) has trained around 3000 dentists in hypnosis. The society’s website lists over 600 dentists who offer this service to their patients. The indications for which hypnosis is available are pronounced fear of dental treatment, gag reflex, intolerance of local anesthetics, and craniomandibular dysfunction. Hypnosis in the following forms is offered ( e25 ):

The use of CDs developed specially for dental treatment (e.g. “ Beim Zahnarzt ohne Spritze [Dental surgery without injection]”). At the beginning of the treatment session track 1 is played repeatedly over headphones, and at the end of treatment the patient is woken by track 2.
Delegation of the hypnosis to a trained member of staff (hypnosis assistant). In this case the dentist must also be trained in hypnosis, because he/she is responsible for the patient’s welfare and must be able to deal with the rare cases of adverse reaction to hypnosis.
Induction of hypnosis by the dentist him-/herself. This takes 2 to 5 min for relaxation prior to an injection, about 10 min for treatment without local anesthesia.
It is advantageous to combine nitrous oxide and hypnosis, because the gas has an anxiolytic effect and increases suggestibility.
Some dentists who concentrate on treatment of patients with anxiety or craniomandibular dysfunction draw on the services of an external hypnotist.

Live hypnosis versus audio file–aided hypnosis

A meta-analysis of hypnosis in medical interventions demonstrated no significant differences in efficacy between live hypnosis and suggestion by means of audio files ( 14 ). Another meta-analysis by a different group of authors concluded that only live hypnosis, which is more apt to provide the context of a personal relationship, significantly reduced postoperative anxiety and pain. Both live and audio file–aided hypnosis significantly decreased postoperative nausea and consumption of analgesics ( 10 ).

Waking suggestions in doctor–patient communication

The German Medical Assembly 2015 spoke out in favor of strengthening physicians’ communicative competence ( 15 ). In our opinion, together with authentic and empathetic interaction ( 16 ), effective doctor–patient communication has to include avoidance of negative suggestions ( 16 – 19 ) and targeted use of positive waking suggestions ( 18 ). In this context, communication could be improved by applying basic principles of hypnotherapy such as employment of indirect suggestions and the establishment of a trusting doctor–patient relationship (rapport). Three RCTs on invasive radiological procedures found that positive suggestions and empathy, with and without techniques of self-hypnosis, were superior to the standard treatment in reducing pain and anxiety and in decreasing consumption of analgesics ( 20 – 22 ). In two RCTs, neutral or positive instructions before blood sampling (“I’m going to start taking the blood sample now”) or induction of local anesthesia led to lower levels of pain than (unintended) negative suggestions (“this may hurt a bit”) ( 23 , 24 ). A RCT in a hospital emergency room found that the pain-relieving effect of intramuscular diclofenac was not reinforced by a waking suggestion (“this is a powerful painkiller”) in patients with acute headache ( 25 ) ( eTable 3 ). Therapeutic waking suggestions can be used by all physicians in a medical context (see Table 3 for examples).

* Trials listed in alphabetical order

** Agreement with the patient’s verbal and non-verbal communication patterns; attentive listening; reinforcement of feeling of autonomy (“Let us know at any time what we can do for you”); swift action in response to the patient’s wishes; avoidance of negative suggestions (“How bad is your pain? “You will now feel a prick and a burning sensation“); positive suggestions (focus on sensations of fullness. coolness. warmth during painful stimuli) Significant. p<0.05

Psychosomatic medicine

Examples of the application of medical hypnosis by psychotherapists in somatic medicine are given in the Box .

Potential applications of medical hypnosis in daily clinical practice (case reports and/or case series)

Explanation of diagnosis and treatment ( e36 )
Communication before and during medical treatment ( 19 )
Emergency service ( e37 )
Communication with children before operations and local procedures ( e38 )
Therapeutic suggestions during general anesthesia ( e26 )
Therapeutic communication during craniotomies performed with the patient awake ( e39 )
Waking suggestions instead of analgesia/sedation in diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy ( e30 )
Gut-directed hypnosis in irritable bowel syndrome ( e32 )
Information, motivation, and supervision on use of audio files with suggestions for the preparation and conduct of medical procedures: dental surgery ( e40 ), maxillofacial surgery ( e41 ), dental treatment ( e25 )
Psychotherapy for pain management: chronic non-cancer and cancer pain ( e42 , e43 )
Component of psychotherapeutic measures in hospital consultation and advisory services, e.g., in gynecology ( e44 ), palliative medicine ( e45 ), and transplant surgery ( e46 )
Dentistry: fear of the dentist, strong gag reflex, fear of dental materials and injections, allergy to local anesthetics, intolerance of implants, parafunctions, temporomandibular dysfunction) ( e40 , e47 )

Hypnosis techniques have long been used—and their efficacy assessed—in somatic medicine. The modern evidence-based indications (emotional stress associated with medical interventions, functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome) correspond with the applications of mesmerism in medicine in the middle of the 19 th century ( e5 ). Learning techniques of self-hypnosis empowers patients to participate in their own treatment and grants them independence. Hypnosis techniques such as the building of a trusting relationship with the patient and therapeutic waking suggestions can considerably reinforce the communicative competence of physicians ( 15 ).

Key Messages

Medical hypnosis comprises the use of hypnotic techniques, with or without induction of a trance.
Robust evidence (from meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials including at least 400 patients) of the efficacy of medical hypnosis exists for reduction of pain and emotional stress, duration of interventions, drug consumption during medical interventions, and reduction of irritable bowel symptoms.
The preparation and conduct of medical interventions can be facilitated by hypnosis.
Waking suggestions, taking advantage of patients’ heightened suggestibility, have a pain-reducing effect in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Hypnotic techniques such as the creation of a trusting relationship with the patient and therapeutic waking suggestions can be used in daily clinical practice by all physicians and dentists and can form an effective component of overall doctor–patient communication.

Acknowledgments

Translated from the original German by David Roseveare

Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Häuser receives royalties from the sale of CDs on medical hypnosis in irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome from Hypnos Verlag. He is an instructor for hypnosis of the German Society for Medical Hypnosis and Autogenous Training (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ärztliche Hypnose und Autogenes Training).

Dr. phil. Dipl.-Psych. Hagl has received honoraria for authorship or co-authorship of yearly reviews of hypnosis research from the Milton H. Erickson Society for Clinical Hypnosis (Milton H. Erickson Gesellschaft für Klinische Hypnose).

Dr. Schmierer has received an honorarium for authorship or co-authorship from Quintessenzverlag (dental hypnosis).

Prof. Hansen is a member of the scientific advisory board of the Milton H. Erickson Society for Clinical Hypnosis (Milton H. Erickson Gesellschaft für klinische Hypnose).

61 intriguing psychology research topics to explore

Last updated

11 January 2024

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Psychology is an incredibly diverse, critical, and ever-changing area of study in the medical and health industries. Because of this, it’s a common area of study for students and healthcare professionals.

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Once you’ve spent time researching and collecting references for your study, you finally get to explore.

Whether this research project is for work, school, or just for fun, having a passion for your research will make the project much more enjoyable. (Trust us, there will be times when that is the only thing that keeps you going.)

Now you’ve decided on the topic, ask more nuanced questions you might want to explore.

If you can, pick the direction that interests you the most to make the research process much more enjoyable.

61 psychology topics to research in 2024

Need some extra help starting your psychology research project on the right foot? Explore our list of 61 cutting-edge, in-demand psychology research topics to use as a starting point for your research journey.

Psychology research topics for university students

As a university student, it can be hard to pick a research topic that fits the scope of your classes and is still compelling and unique.

Here are a few exciting topics we recommend exploring for your next assigned research project:

Mental health in post-secondary students

Seeking post-secondary education is a stressful and overwhelming experience for most students, making this topic a great choice to explore for your in-class research paper.

Examples of post-secondary mental health research topics include:

Student mental health status during exam season

Mental health disorder prevalence based on study major

The impact of chronic school stress on overall quality of life

The impacts of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can occur at all ages, starting as early as elementary school and carrying through into professional workplaces.

Examples of cyberbullying-based research topics you can study include:

The impact of cyberbullying on self-esteem

Common reasons people engage in cyberbullying

Cyberbullying themes and commonly used terms

Cyberbullying habits in children vs. adults

The long-term effects of cyberbullying

Clinical psychology research topics

If you’re looking to take a more clinical approach to your next project, here are a few topics that involve direct patient assessment for you to consider:

Chronic pain and mental health

Living with chronic pain dramatically impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including their mental and emotional health.

Here are a few examples of in-demand pain-related psychology research topics:

The connection between diabetic neuropathy and depression

Neurological pain and its connection to mental health disorders

Efficacy of meditation and mindfulness for pain management

The long-term effects of insomnia

Insomnia is where you have difficulty falling or staying asleep. It’s a common health concern that impacts millions of people worldwide.

This is an excellent topic because insomnia can have a variety of causes, offering many research possibilities.

Here are a few compelling psychology research topics about insomnia you could investigate:

The prevalence of insomnia based on age, gender, and ethnicity

Insomnia and its impact on workplace productivity

The connection between insomnia and mental health disorders

Efficacy and use of melatonin supplements for insomnia

The risks and benefits of prescription insomnia medications

Lifestyle options for managing insomnia symptoms

The efficacy of mental health treatment options

Management and treatment of mental health conditions is an ever-changing area of study. If you can witness or participate in mental health therapies, this can make a great research project.

Examples of mental health treatment-related psychology research topics include:

The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with severe anxiety

The benefits and drawbacks of group vs. individual therapy sessions

Music therapy for mental health disorders

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for patients with depression

Controversial psychology research paper topics

If you are looking to explore a more cutting-edge or modern psychology topic, you can delve into a variety of controversial and topical options:

The impact of social media and digital platforms

Ever since access to internet forums and video games became more commonplace, there’s been growing concern about the impact these digital platforms have on mental health.

Examples of social media and video game-related psychology research topics include:

The effect of edited images on self-confidence

How social media platforms impact social behavior

Video games and their impact on teenage anger and violence

Digital communication and the rapid spread of misinformation

The development of digital friendships

Psychotropic medications for mental health

In recent years, the interest in using psychoactive medications to treat and manage health conditions has increased despite their inherently controversial nature.

Examples of psychotropic medication-related research topics include:

The risks and benefits of using psilocybin mushrooms for managing anxiety

The impact of marijuana on early-onset psychosis

Childhood marijuana use and related prevalence of mental health conditions

Ketamine and its use for complex PTSD (C-PTSD) symptom management

The effect of long-term psychedelic use and mental health conditions

Mental health disorder research topics

As one of the most popular subsections of psychology, studying mental health disorders and how they impact quality of life is an essential and impactful area of research.

While studies in these areas are common, there’s always room for additional exploration, including the following hot-button topics:

Anxiety and depression disorders

Anxiety and depression are well-known and heavily researched mental health disorders.

Despite this, we still don’t know many things about these conditions, making them great candidates for psychology research projects:

Social anxiety and its connection to chronic loneliness

C-PTSD symptoms and causes

The development of phobias

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviors and symptoms

Depression triggers and causes

Self-care tools and resources for depression

The prevalence of anxiety and depression in particular age groups or geographic areas

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a complex and multi-faceted area of psychology research.

Use your research skills to learn more about this condition and its impact by choosing any of the following topics:

Early signs of bipolar disorder

The incidence of bipolar disorder in young adults

The efficacy of existing bipolar treatment options

Bipolar medication side effects

Cognitive behavioral therapy for people with bipolar

Schizoaffective disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is often stigmatized, and less common mental health disorders are a hotbed for new and exciting research.

Here are a few examples of interesting research topics related to this mental health disorder:

The prevalence of schizoaffective disorder by certain age groups or geographic locations

Risk factors for developing schizoaffective disorder

The prevalence and content of auditory and visual hallucinations

Alternative therapies for schizoaffective disorder

Societal and systematic psychology research topics

Modern society’s impact is deeply enmeshed in our mental and emotional health on a personal and community level.

Here are a few examples of societal and systemic psychology research topics to explore in more detail:

Access to mental health services

While mental health awareness has risen over the past few decades, access to quality mental health treatment and resources is still not equitable.

This can significantly impact the severity of a person’s mental health symptoms, which can result in worse health outcomes if left untreated.

Explore this crucial issue and provide information about the need for improved mental health resource access by studying any of the following topics:

Rural vs. urban access to mental health resources

Access to crisis lines by location

Wait times for emergency mental health services

Inequities in mental health access based on income and location

Insurance coverage for mental health services

Systemic racism and mental health

Societal systems and the prevalence of systemic racism heavily impact every aspect of a person’s overall health.

Researching these topics draws attention to existing problems and contributes valuable insights into ways to improve access to care moving forward.

Examples of systemic racism-related psychology research topics include:

Access to mental health resources based on race

The prevalence of BIPOC mental health therapists in a chosen area

The impact of systemic racism on mental health and self-worth

Racism training for mental health workers

The prevalence of mental health disorders in discriminated groups

LGBTQIA+ mental health concerns

Research about LGBTQIA+ people and their mental health needs is a unique area of study to explore for your next research project. It’s a commonly overlooked and underserved community.

Examples of LGBTQIA+ psychology research topics to consider include:

Mental health supports for queer teens and children

The impact of queer safe spaces on mental health

The prevalence of mental health disorders in the LGBTQIA+ community

The benefits of queer mentorship and found family

Substance misuse in LQBTQIA+ youth and adults

Collect data and identify trends with Dovetail

Psychology research is an exciting and competitive study area, making it the perfect choice for projects or papers.

Take the headache out of analyzing your data and instantly access the insights you need to complete your next psychology research project by teaming up with Dovetail today.

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54 Hypnosis Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best hypnosis topic ideas & essay examples, ⭐ good research topics about hypnosis, 👍 simple & easy hypnosis essay titles.

Hypnosis Practice Regulations in the State of New York To practice hypnotism in the state of New York, the practitioner does not require a license of a behavioral health professional, but they are required to the proper use of terminology.
Hypnosis Intervention in Treatment For instance, the research done by Williams et al.demonstrates that in the state of hypnotic analgesia, subjects become less susceptible to pain stimuli. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
The Effectiveness of Hypnosis on the Masseter Muscle Activity Because of the sample size in this study it was impossible to confirm that there was not a correlation between increase in rest position and decrease in EMG activity.
Hypnosis in Dentistry Analysis The rest position is defined by the Glossary of Prosthetic Terms as “the postural relation of the mandible to the maxilla when the patient is resting comfortably in the upright position, and the condyles are […]
Hypnosis: Experiments and Non-Experiments The experimental study selected for this research will be one conducted by Geiselman, Fisher, MacKinnon and Holland which sought to determine whether hypnosis or cognitive retrieval mnemonics was useful for enhancing the memory of eyewitnesses […]
Hypnosis and Its Effectiveness for Mental Disorders Moreover, the researcher designed the questionnaire in the form of a Likert scale to rate the responses of participants regarding their perception of hypnosis and its effectiveness in treating psychological disorders.
Hypnotherapy Session for Smoking Cessation When I reached the age of sixty, I realized that I no longer wanted to be a smoker who was unable to take control of one’s lifestyle.
Hypnotherapy for Intrapartum Pain Management The review was organized logically and supported the need for the study, with background information presented at the beginning to lead to the research’s conclusion that there was a need in analyzing a sizeable nationally-representative […]
Hypnosis Development, Research and Perspectives The ultimate aim of hypnosis is to ensure that one is given the mental strength enough to overcome the issues that may prove challenging under normal circumstances. The intensity of the mental disorder and the […]
Hypnotic Suggestions Effectiveness Evaluation The improved version of this suggestion is: “The music in the background is the signal for you to relax. The music is your signal to sleep.
Weight Management Programs and Hypnotherapy They are the effectiveness of the program, which means that a weight loss achieved in the course of treatment must be significant, safe for health and availability.
Hypnosis Therapy Issues However, it is not until the middle of the 20th century that the use of hypnotherapy in clinical psychology became official and popular.
How Accurate Are the Memories That Are Recovered Under Hypnosis? The independent variable of the study was the age-regression of respondents during hypnosis. In the course of the survey, 16 respondents were asked to give their accounts of transitional objects under hypnosis.
Factors Related to Hypnotisability The scope of the research is to measure people’s levels of hypnotizability and whether it relates to empathy, absorption and imagery.
The Hypnotic Voice the Vocals of Hypnosis
Improving Yourself Through Self Hypnosis
Hypnosis and Extraordinary Memory Skills
Enhance Performance Through Hypnosis
Physical and Psychological Aspects of Hypnosis
Hypnosis and the Amazing Unconscious Mind
Challenging Misconceptions Associated With Hypnosis
The Characteristics and Aspects of the Phenomenon of Hypnosis
Hypnosis Recordings vs. The Real Thing
Controlling Blushing and Emotions Through Hypnosis
How Hypnosis Can Help on Weight Loss
Clinical Hypnosis and Focused Attention
The Psychological State of Hypnosis
Enhancing Memory and Concentration With Hypnosis
Hypnosis and the Controversial Issue of Hypnosis
Improving Sports Performance With Hypnosis
Hypnosis and Recovered Memory Testimony
Control Your Drinking With Hypnosis
Improve Your Memory Recall With Hypnosis
The Altered States of Consciousness and Hypnosis
Psychological and Physical Aspects of Hypnosis
Age Regression and Clinical Hypnosis
Hypnosis Quit Smoking Techniques
Essay Hypnosis: Pain and Everyday Pain
Beyond the Common Myths of Hypnosis
Hypnosis for Personal Exploration
Bolster Your Willpower With Stop Smoking Hypnosis Therapy
Hypnosis and Pain Management
Resolving Psychological Problems With Hypnosis
Unorthodox Therapy Weight Loss Hypnosis
The Origin and History of Hypnosis
Conquer Addiction With Hypnosis
Asthma Attack Treatment Thanks to Hypnosis
Hypnosis for Pregnancy and Birth
Consciousness: Sleep, Dreams, Hypnosis, and Drugs
Elucidating Unconscious Processing With Instrumental Hypnosis
Anger Management With Hypnosis
Hypnosis and Relaxation Essay Topics
Theories That Are Involved in Hypnosis and Psychotherapy
Build Your Confidence and Self Esteem With Self Hypnosis
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Good Research Topics About Hypnosis

The Hypnotic Speaker, the Vocalists of Hypnosis
Self-Hypnosis for Self-Improvement
Hypnosis and Exceptional Memory Retention
Boost Performance Through Hypnosis
Mental and Physical Elements of Hypnosis
Hypnosis and the Incredible Unconscious Mind
Engaging Misconceptions Affiliated with Hypnosis
The Features and Characteristics of the Hypnosis Phenomenon
Hypnosis Audio Vs. the Real Thing
Attempting to Control Blushing and Emotional Responses Through Hypnosis
How Can Hypnosis Aid with Weight Loss?
Clinical Hypnosis and Concentrated Attention
Hypnosis’s Physical State
Improving Attention and Concentration with Hypnosis
The Sensitive Topic of Hypnosis
Enhancing Athletic Performance with Hypnosis
Hypnosis and Restored Memory Testimony
Restrict Your Drinking with Hypnosis
Enhance Your Memory Retrieval with Hypnosis
The Modified States of Awareness and Hypnosis

Simple & Easy Hypnosis Essay Titles

Psychological and Physical Characteristics of Hypnosis
Pain in Hypnosis
Beyond the Common Misconceptions of Hypnosis
Hypnosis for Individual Investigation
Stop Smoking: Hypnosis Therapy Can Help You Stop Smoking
Hypnosis and Medication Management
Addressing Psychological Issues Through Hypnosis
Unusual Treatments: Losing Weight through Hypnosis
The Evolution and Origins of Hypnosis
Overcome Substance Abuse with Hypnosis
Asthma Attack Prevention with Hypnosis
Hypnosis for Pregnancy and Delivery
Rest, Fantasies, Hypnosis, and Medications All Affect Consciousness.
Dealing with Anger Issues with Hypnosis
Hypnosis and Relaxation
Theories Associated with Hypnosis and Psychotherapy
Develop Your Confidence and Self-Esteem with Self-Hypnosis

24 Hacks to Prevent Kids From Wandering ...

Boeing essay topics.

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COMMENTS

Uncovering the new science of clinical hypnosis
Division 30 defines hypnosis as "a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion" (Elkins, G. R., et al., International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Vol. 63, No. 1, 2015).Yet the definition of hypnosis has been the subject of debate for the better part of a century.
New directions in hypnosis research: strategies for advancing the
Recent Advances in Hypnosis Research. There are two major approaches to hypnosis research: (i) "intrinsic" hypnosis research, where the focus is to understand the nature of hypnosis itself and (ii) "instrumental" hypnosis research in which hypnosis and hypnotic suggestions are used to produce effects of interest to researchers outside of the field of hypnosis (Reyher 1962; Cox and ...
Functional Changes in Brain Activity Using Hypnosis: A Systematic
Hypnosis has proven a powerful method in indications such as pain control and anxiety reduction. As recently discussed, it has been yielding increased attention from medical/dental perspectives. This systematic review (PROSPERO-registration-ID-CRD42021259187) aimed to critically evaluate and discuss functional changes in brain activity using ...
Frontiers
Clinical hypnosis refers to the use of hypnotic trance and hypnotic phenomena in the fields of psychotherapy, psychosomatics and medicine (including dentistry). These are the main topics of this article. The use of hypnosis in forensic settings hardly plays a role any more ( Reiser, 1980; Beetz and von Delhaes, 2023 ).
Frontiers
Notably, these are the first grant opportunities issued by the NCCIH since 2015 to identify hypnotic interventions as a high priority research topic. The NCCIH recognizes evidence for the efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of IBS, chronic pain, PTSD, and hot flashes (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2020). The NCCIH ...
The Neuroscience of Hypnosis
Research has shown the efficacy of hypnosis in treating conditions such as pain, anxiety, depression, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome (Jensen et al., 2015a).There are also many case ...
Full article: Neurophysiology and neuropsychology of hypnosis
Over the last decades hypnosis, which is the oldest psychotherapy, has matured as both as a fascinating topic for scientific research and an effective technique for clinical application. Hypnosis has been defined as "a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced, awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response ...
Hypnosis today
Topics in Psychology. Explore how scientific research by psychologists can inform our professional lives, family and community relationships, emotional wellness, and more. ... hypnosis is used in research and forensic settings. Researchers study the value of hypnosis in the treatment of physical and psychological problems and examine the impact ...
Current Practices in Clinical Hypnosis: Research and Commentary
The lead article, Current Practices, Experiences, and Views in Clinical Hypnosis: Findings of an International Survey (Palsson et al., 2023) revealed that few clinicians reported use of hypnotizability scales. However, as pointed out by Dr. Kihlstrom, the routine assessment of hypnotizability can improve clinical practice by identifying ...
The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis: Theory, Research, and Practice
Abstract. The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis is a comprehensive summary of where field of hypnosis has been, where it stands today, and its future directions. The book's articles on the scientific background to the field, aim to live up to an uncompromising scholarly legacy. In addition, the scope of the book includes seventeen clinical articles ...
Frontiers
Since the publication of the aforementioned review, our research group has conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial offering group hypnosis for stress reduction and improved stress coping, which showed a reduction in perceived stress in the hypnosis group compared to the control group at both 5 and 12 weeks (Fisch et al., 2020a).
What is hypnosis and how might it work?
Hypnosis could be seen as a meditative state, which one can learn to access consciously and deliberately, for a therapeutic purpose. Suggestions are then given either verbally or using imagery, directed at the desired outcome. This might be to allay anxiety by accessing calmness and relaxation, help manage side effects of medications, or help ...
Hypnosis today
While more research is being conducted on the benefits of hypnosis, graduate schools are lagging behind in incorporating hypnosis training into psychology programs, say Yapko, Willmarth and Montgomery. "The universities have really dropped the ball by thinking hypnosis is a sideshow rather than being relevant to effective psychotherapy," Yapko ...
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a mental state of highly focused concentration, diminished peripheral awareness, and heightened suggestibility. There are numerous techniques that experts employ for inducing such a state.
(PDF) What is hypnosis and how might it work?
ness of suggestion and access to mind/body links or. unconscious processing. Hypnosis can not only be. used to reduce emotional distress but also may. have a direct effect on the patient's ...
Hypnosis: Types, Uses, Impact, Pitfalls
Hypnosis is a trance-like mental state in which people experience increased attention, concentration, and suggestibility. While hypnosis is often described as a sleep-like state, it is better expressed as a state of focused attention, heightened suggestibility, and vivid fantasies. People in a hypnotic state often seem sleepy and zoned out, but ...
Hypnosis: Separating Fact From Fiction
Research suggests that hypnosis can help treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, and smoking. ... Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Otterbein College and a practicing ... Trending Topics ...
Clinical Hypnosis
The scope of this Research Topic is to present a colorful rich variety of examples of applications of clinical hypnosis. Topics could cover psychotherapy, dentistry, surgery, intensive care, child birth, sleep disorders, bowel diseases, and pain therapy. Besides clinical applications also basic and experimental research should be included to ...
Does Hypnotherapy Really Work? 10+ Scientific Findings
Scientifically reviewed by Jo Nash, Ph.D. Hypnosis is a deep state of relaxation, focus, and increased suggestibility. Yet, it is not exceptional. We regularly find ourselves lost in thought, adrift in music, and immersed in work. The difference is that during hypnotherapy, a therapist guides the client to the new mental state.
The Efficacy, Safety and Applications of Medical Hypnosis
Hypnosis for purposes of medical treatment goes back a long way. The British Medical Association endorsed the use of hypnosis in somatic medicine in 1955, on the basis of case reports and series backed up by expert consensus, and the American Medical Association followed suit in 1958 (1, 2).Whether robust evidence exists for the efficacy and safety of hypnosis in somatic medicine in the era of ...
Hypnosis
History and early research. The history of hypnosis is as ancient as that of sorcery, magic, and medicine; indeed, hypnosis has been used as a method in all three.Its scientific history began in the latter part of the 18th century with Franz Mesmer, a German physician who used hypnosis in the treatment of patients in Vienna and Paris. Because of his mistaken belief that hypnotism made use of ...
61 Interesting Psychology Research Topics (2024)
Examples of systemic racism-related psychology research topics include: Access to mental health resources based on race. The prevalence of BIPOC mental health therapists in a chosen area. The impact of systemic racism on mental health and self-worth. Racism training for mental health workers.
54 Hypnosis Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
Conquer Addiction With Hypnosis. Asthma Attack Treatment Thanks to Hypnosis. Hypnosis for Pregnancy and Birth. Consciousness: Sleep, Dreams, Hypnosis, and Drugs. Elucidating Unconscious Processing With Instrumental Hypnosis. Anger Management With Hypnosis. Hypnosis and Relaxation Essay Topics.
Good Research Topics About Hypnosis
Spread the loveGood Research Topics About Hypnosis The Hypnotic Speaker, the Vocalists of Hypnosis Self-Hypnosis for Self-Improvement Hypnosis and Exceptional Memory Retention Boost Performance Through Hypnosis Mental and Physical Elements of Hypnosis Hypnosis and the Incredible Unconscious Mind Engaging Misconceptions Affiliated with Hypnosis The Features and Characteristics of the Hypnosis ...
People think 'old age' starts later than it used to, study finds
Washington —Middle-aged and older adults believe that old age begins later in life than their peers did decades ago, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association. "Life expectancy has increased, which might contribute to a later perceived onset of old age. Also, some aspects of health have improved over time, so that people of a certain age who were regarded as ...