Hypnotic intervention in cardiac arrhythmias: advantages, disadvantages, precautions, and theoretical considerations

Inadvertent adverse consequences of clinical and forensic hypnosis: minimizing the risks

Hypnosis is a psychological intervention tool that can make a gamut of psychological, medical, and dental treatments work more rapidly and effectively. It can also be used profitably with some witnesses, victims, and defendants in forensic and investigative contexts as a data gathering tool. As with any other power tool, its use entails some risks. Since risks cannot be totally avoided, this article examines some ways to minimize the risks of inadvertent adverse or negative consequences as a result of the use of the hypnosis tool. Fundamentals of hypnosis risk management are covered as a foundation for beginners and as a review for experienced practitioners. Various straightforward safeguards that should be heeded by all practitioners are discussed.

Hypnosis on a consultation-liaison service

The use of hypnosis was demonstrated on a psychiatric consultation-liaison service (CLS) in a broad spectrum of medically hospitalized patients. Hypnosis was employed as an adjuvant measure to traditional medical and psychologic treatment modalities. Tapes for autohypnosis were used for reinforcement. Twenty-nine women and eight men from 24 to 75 years of age were hypnotized for relief of depression, pain, anxiety, or side-effects from chemotherapy. Results were excellent (total to almost total relief of symptoms) in 68% of the patients, fair in 22%, and poor in 11% with no differences among the results with the various conditions. This report demonstrates that hypnotherapy can be an extremely useful tool in the medical management of patients on a CLS.

Hypnosis in the emergency department

Five cases are presented wherein hypnosis was used by the emergency physician either as the primary mode of treatment or as an adjuvant to standard medical care. Common hypnotic phenomena (eg, anesthesia, analgesia), as well as novel effects, are reported. The technique used for trance induction and utilization is briefly outlined, and criteria are set forth for the bedside recognition of hypnotic trance.