ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the application of hypnosis to medicine and psychiatry. The review indicates the close relationship between medicine – especially the field of psychiatry – and hypnosis in the development of the art and science of healing. Hypnotic intervention with medical patients can be an effective tool in addressing the suffering component, and it can facilitate a sense of control and self-mastery that promotes physiological as well as psychological equilibrium. The chapter reviews five medical conditions – pain, respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, dermatological disorders and cancer – to demonstrate the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. Hypnotic techniques have also been proven to be effective in the acute medical setting. The chapter describes the application of hypnosis to five well-known psychiatric conditions: anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders, conversion disorders and insomnia. Although psychological treatment for insomnia is initially more time-consuming and more expensive than hypnotic medication, there are long-lasting benefits associated with psychological interventions.
