[Hypnosis: clinical applications].

BACKGROUND

Hypnosis has a wide variety of applications in medicine. In recent years, recognition has grown for the need to subject the effectiveness of hypnosis to accepted research standards of clinical medicine.

PURPOSE

This article aims to review salient studies of the effectiveness of hypnosis in several areas of medicine where hypnosis is commonly employed: analgesia, preparation for medical and surgical procedures, asthma, digestive disturbances, dermatological disorders, bleeding disorders, postsurgical and post-chemotherapeutic nausea and vomiting, and smoking cessation.

METHODS

This survey emphasizes studies that fulfill accepted standards of clinical research, including randomization, control groups, and adequate sample size.

RESULTS

Firm empirical evidence is to be found for the effectiveness of hypnosis in analgesia. In the other areas reviewed there is also some evidence for the possible clinical value for hypnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional research will be necessary to determine the proper place of hypnosis in clinical medical care.