Methodological and empirical considerations in assessing the validity of psychoanalytic theories of hypnosis.

After a brief discussion of psychoanalytic theories of hypnosis, I have reviewed relevant experimental literature to assess the validity of the theories and examined the methodological issues central to appropriate research design in this area as a way to evaluate past research and to suggest future areas of study. I have concluded that most research on psychoanalytic constructs in hypnosis has been methodologically inadequate; and although certain psychoanalytic constructs (e.g., adaptive regression, transference) can be useful for an understanding of the hypnotic experiences of subgroups of individuals, past theories are not supported by available data.