Author: Philip D Shenefelt, MD, MS, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Past Chief, Section of Dermatology, James A Haley Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Updated: Apr 23, 2009
Hypnosis is the intentional induction, deepening, maintenance, and termination of the natural trance state for a specific purpose. For the much maligned stage hypnosis, the purpose is entertainment. For medical hypnotherapy, the purpose is to reduce suffering, to promote healing, or to help the person alter a destructive behavior. The hypnotic phenomenon has been used since antiquity to assist in healing.
All individuals enter spontaneous mild trances daily while absorbed in watching television or a movie, in reading a book or a magazine, or in another activity or meditation. With appropriate training, an individual may intensify this trance state in himself or herself or in another individual and use this heightened focus to induce mind-body interactions that help to alleviate suffering or to promote healing. The trance state may be induced by using guided imagery, relaxation, deep breathing, meditation techniques, self-hypnosis, or hypnosis induction techniques. Individuals vary in their ability to enter the trance state, but most can obtain some benefit from hypnosis.
In dermatology, hypnosis may help decrease pain and pruritus in the skin; intervene in psychosomatic aspects of skin diseases; and lead to the resolution of some skin diseases, including verruca vulgaris. Suggestion without formal trance induction may be effective in some cases. Sulzberger and Wolf1 reported on the use of suggestion to treat verrucae.
Precisely defining hypnosis has proven to be challenging. Marmer2described hypnosis as a psychophysiological tetrad of altered consciousness consisting of narrowed awareness, restricted and focused attentiveness, selective wakefulness, and heightened suggestibility. For a more detailed discussion of the definitions of hypnosis, see the texts by Crasilneck and Hall3 or Barabasz and Watkins.4 Many myths exist about hypnosis that overrate, underrate, or distort the true capabilities of hypnosis.
Hypnosis can regulate blood flow and other autonomic functions that are not usually under conscious control. The relaxation response that occurs with hypnosis also affects the neurohormonal systems that regulate many body functions. Studies on the influence of hypnosis on immediate immune responses have shown the ability of hypnotized volunteers to significantly decrease the flare reaction to the histamine prick test. Similarly, in one study, the effect of hypnotic suggestion on delayed cellular immune responses has shown significant effect on the size of erythema and on palpable induration but no significant effect in other studies.
A report by Braun5 on different allergic responses; dermatologic reactions; and effects on seizure disorders, pain control, and healing in the same individual with multiple personality disorder (now called dissociative identity disorder) shows how much influence the mind can have on physiologic reactions and disease processes, depending on the personality present. The report also described the differences in physiologic responses and disease conditions for selected individuals under hypnosis compared with their normal waking state.
Hypnosis may be used to increase healthy behaviors, to decrease situational stress, to reduce needle phobias, to control harmful habits (eg, scratching), to provide immediate and long-term analgesia, to ameliorate symptoms related to diseases (eg, pruritus), to accelerate recovery from surgery, and to enhance the mind-body connection to promote healing. Hypnosis can be especially helpful in dealing with skin diseases that have a psychosomatic aspect. Griesemer,6 who was trained both in dermatology and in psychiatry, recorded the incidence of emotional triggering of dermatoses in his patients during 1 year in his practice. He developed an index for various skin diseases, with 100 indicating an absolute psychosomatic component and zero indicating no psychosomatic component to the skin disease.
Good references on the responsiveness of skin diseases to hypnosis are found in the somewhat outdated book by Scott7 and in the chapter on the use of hypnosis in dermatologic problems in the text by Crasilneck and Hall.3Koblenzer8 also mentions some of the uses of hypnosis in common dermatologic problems. In an excellent resource book for patients, Grossbart and Sherman9 discuss mind-body interactions in skin diseases and include hypnosis as recommended therapy for a number of skin conditions.
Methods of Medical Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is not a therapy in and of itself. Instead, it is a tool that can be used to reveal psychological and behavioral roadblocks to healing. Therapies that can be enhanced by hypnosis include supportive (ego-strengthening) therapy, direct suggestion, symptom substitution, and hypnoanalysis.
In adults, induction of the hypnotic state is achieved by any of a number of methods that focus attention, soothe, and/or produce monotony or confusion. In children, the hypnotic state can be induced by having the child make-believe that he or she is watching television, a movie, or a play or by using some other distractive process that uses the imagination.
Supportive (ego-strengthening) therapy while in a hypnotic state includes positive suggestions of self-worth and effectiveness. Posthypnotic suggestion is often included, and further strengthening of the effect can be obtained by recording an audiocassette tape that the patient can repeatedly use for self-hypnosis later. The strengthened ego is better able to repress or confront discordant elements that inhibit healing.
Direct suggestion while in the hypnotic state is a frequently used method of decreasing discomfort from pain, pruritus, burning sensations, anxiety, and insomnia. Again, posthypnotic suggestion and repeated use of an audiocassette tape for self-hypnosis help to reinforce the effectiveness of direct suggestion. Direct suggestion may produce a sufficiently deep anesthesia in highly hypnotizable individuals for cutaneous surgery. Direct suggestion can also be used to reduce repetitive acts of skin scratching or picking, nail biting or manipulating, and hair pulling or twisting. Unwanted psychophysiologic responses, such as hyperhidrosis, blushing, and some types of urticaria, can also be controlled by direct suggestion. Some skin lesions can even be induced to resolve by using direct suggestion; the classic example is verrucae.
Symptom substitution retrains the subconscious by means of hypnosis to replace a negative habit pattern with a more constructive one. For example, scratching can be replaced by another physical activity, such as grabbing onto something and holding it so tightly for a half minute that it almost hurts. Other stress relievers that can be substituted for scratching include athletic activities, artwork, verbal expression of feelings, or meditation.
Hypnoanalysis may help patients with chronic psychosomatic dermatoses that are nonresponsive to other simpler approaches. LeCron’s10,11 list of the 7 most common factors causing emotional difficulties and illnesses (ie, conflicts, motivation, the effect of suggestion, organ language, identification, self-punishment, and the effect of past experiences) is a good starting point for exploration in hypnoanalysis. Ewin and Eimer12 provide a user-friendly method of detecting and neutralizing the emotional impact of sensitizing or precipitating events. They use ideomotor signaling to obtain recollection of significant memories that may be preverbal or nonverbal. Results may occur more rapidly than with standard psychoanalysis. Only well-qualified and appropriately licensed practitioners should perform these types of hypnosis.
The author discusses the successful use of hypnoanalysis in dermatology.13The author has slightly modified Ewin’s mnemonic for LeCron’s 7 key factors to COMPASS, as follows:
§ C onflict
§ O rgan language
§ M otivation
§ P ast experiences
§ A ctive identification
§ S elf-punishment
§ S uggestion
The diagnostic value of screening for psychosomatic factors related to skin disorder triggering or exacerbation is illustrated in the above case. It is possible to rule out a likely psychosomatic component if the focused history and COMPASS ideomotor questioning for all 7 factors is negative. With 1 or 2 factors positive, appropriate reframing may be sufficient, but with more factors positive, more intensive psychotherapy would be appropriate.
Hypnotic Relaxation During Dermatologic Surgery
A variety of dermatologic procedures can produce pain or anxiety in patients. Skin procedures that are somewhat painful but usually do not require a local anesthetic include moderate depth chemical peels, cryodestruction of skin lesions, curettage of molluscum, excision of skin tags, extrusion of comedones, incision and expression of milia, laser treatment of vascular lesions, strong microdermabrasion, and sclerotherapy. Dermatologic procedures that require a local anesthetic include electrodesiccation and curettage, incision and drainage of an abscess, laser ablation of skin lesions, liposuction, punch biopsy, shave biopsy, surgical excision, and surgical repair. Cutaneous procedures that may require conscious sedation include deep chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and extensive liposuction. All of these procedures may be augmented by hypnotic relaxation and/or hypnotic analgesia.
Recent experimental evidence helps to elucidate the nature of the mechanisms of pain relief during hypnosis. Faymonville et al found that pain reduction mediated by hypnosis was localized to the mid anterior cingulate cortex, as observed by using a positron emission tomography (PET).14
In an electroencephalographic (EEG) study of hypnosis effects versus distraction effects on cold pressor pain, Freeman et al15 observed significantly greater high theta (5.5-7.5 Hz) activity in persons who were highly susceptible to hypnosis (based on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C or SHSS:C scores) compared with persons who were less susceptible to hypnosis at parietal and occipital sites during both hypnosis and waking relaxation. Freeman et al also found that in persons who were highly susceptible to hypnosis, hypnosis provided significantly greater pain relief than distraction or waking relaxation. These individuals also had significantly greater pain relief via hypnosis than those who were less susceptible to hypnosis. These PET and EEG studies support state-based theories of hypnosis as opposed to sociocognitive theories of hypnosis.
Until recently, the clinical literature on hypnosis for pain and anxiety relief was mostly on the case report level. In older literature, Blankfield16reviewed adjunctive hypnosis in the care of patients who underwent surgery. Overgeneralizing from case reports can be risky.
In a meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia, Montgomery et al17found that hypnosis relieved pain in patients with headache, burn injury, heart disease, cancer, dental problems, eczema, and chronic back problems. Their study quantified the magnitude of hypnoanalgesic effects. For most people, hypnotic suggestion relieved pain regardless of its type.
Light and medium trance states are sufficient for most purposes, but a deep trance state is required for hypnotic anesthesia for surgery. Faymonville et al18 randomly assigned 60 patients undergoing plastic surgery with conscious sedation either to a control group with stress-reducing strategies or to a hypnosis group. Intraoperative and postoperative anxiety and pain were significantly lower and significantly smaller amounts of medication were required for conscious sedation in the hypnosis group.
Mauer et al19 studied 60 patients who underwent hand surgery and received either standard treatment or standard treatment augmented with hypnosis. The hypnosis group had significantly decreased perceived pain intensity, expression of perceived pain, and anxiety compared with those of control subjects. Patients in the hypnosis group also had significantly fewer medical complications and a higher postoperative recovery rate.
Montgomery et al20 studied 20 women randomized to standard care versus preoperative hypnosis for excisional breast biopsy. They found brief (10 min) hypnosis to be effective in reducing postsurgery pain and distress both before surgery and after surgery. Defechereux et al21 reported a prospective randomized study of thyroid and parathyroid procedures performed under hypnosis, local anesthesia, and minimal conscious sedation in patients compared with similar surgery performed under conventional anesthesia in 20 patients. Defechereux et al found that patients in the hypnoanesthesia group had significantly less inflammatory response, hemodynamic dysregulation, postoperative pain, postoperative fatigue, and convalescence time. Bleeding, operative times, and surgical comfort were similar in both groups.
Lang et al22 conducted a prospective randomized trial of adjunctive nonpharmacologic analgesia for invasive radiologic procedures in 3 groups: percutaneous vascular radiologic intraoperative standard intravenous conscious sedation care; structured attention; and intravenous conscious sedation that included self-hypnotic relaxation. Pain increased linearly with time in the standard group and in the structured attention group, but it remained flat in the hypnosis group. Anxiety decreased over time in all 3 groups but more so in the hypnosis group. Drug use was significantly higher in the standard group, intermediate in the structured attention group, and lowest in the self-hypnosis group. Hemodynamic stability was significantly higher in the hypnosis group than in the other 2 groups. Procedure times were significantly shorter in the hypnosis group than in the standard group. Individual imagery was quite varied.23
Lang et al22 concluded that hypnosis worked better in reducing pain and anxiety, in maintaining hemodynamic stability, and in shortening the procedure time than standard intraprocedural care; the results of the structured attention group were in between those of the hypnosis group and the standard care group.
Lang and Rosen24 used the data from the above study to perform a cost analysis of standard intravenous conscious sedation compared with intravenous conscious sedation that included self-hypnotic relaxation. The average cost per case associated with standard sedation was $638 compared with an average cost of $300 per case for sedation augmented by hypnosis. The cost savings averaged $338 per case.
Permitting the patient to choose his or her own self-guided imagery seems to allow most individuals to reach a state of relaxation during procedures. The author has used the technique from the invasive radiologic studies modified for dermatology with good success in dermatologic surgery.25 Eye-roll induction was most commonly used by the author; this method works quickly for most patients.
Hypnotherapy for Specific Dermatologic Conditions
Much of the older literature about the effectiveness of hypnosis on specific dermatologic conditions is based on one or a few uncontrolled cases. The word may is used below to qualify recommendations that are based on weak evidence. In recent years, randomized controlled trials have produced more reliable information. Unfortunately, randomized controlled trial results are still not available for most of the disease categories. The list of dermatologic conditions below is not all-inclusive, but it does include most of the dermatologic conditions for which hypnosis is reasonably helpful in reducing symptoms or in improving aspects of the condition. They are arranged on the basis of the strength of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of hypnosis, starting with the strongest evidence.26 Those dermatologic conditions supported by only one or a few case reports are listed in alphabetical order toward the end of this section, starting with acne excoriée.
Randomized controlled trials
Verruca vulgaris27
The early report by Sulzberger1 on the efficacy of suggestion in treating warts has since been confirmed numerous times. Numerous reports attest to the efficacy of hypnosis in treating warts.28,29 In a well-conducted randomized controlled study by Spanos et al30 that serves as a typical example, 53% of the experimental group had improvement of their warts 3 months after the first of 5 hypnotherapy sessions, while none of the control group had improvement. Hypnosis can be successful as a therapy for warts.
Psoriasis
Stress is often a factor in the onset, exacerbation, and prolongation of psoriasis. Hypnosis and suggestion have been shown to have a positive effect on psoriasis. In a typical case report, 75% clearing of psoriasis was reported by using a hypnotic sensory-imagery technique. A case of extensive, severe psoriasis of 20 years’ duration showed marked improvement by using sensory imagery to replicate the sensations in the patient’s skin that he had experienced during sunbathing. Another case of severe psoriasis of 20 years’ duration fully resolved with a hypnoanalytic technique.
Tausk and Whitmore31 performed a small randomized double-blind controlled trial by using hypnosis as adjunctive therapy in psoriasis, with significant improvement in individuals who were highly susceptible to hypnosis. Hypnosis can be useful as an adjunct therapy for resistant psoriasis, especially if an emotional factor is significant in the triggering of the psoriasis.
Venipuncture in children
Liossi et al conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial to compare the efficacy of a local anesthetic (EMLA), EMLA plus hypnosis, or EMLA plus attention in children receiving venipuncture. Children in the EMLA-plus-hypnosis group reported less anticipatory anxiety and less procedure-related pain and anxiety; they were rated as demonstrating less behavioral distress during the procedure than patients in the other 2 groups. Additionally, parents whose children were randomized to the EMLA-plus-hypnosis group experienced less anxiety during their child’s procedure than parents whose children had been randomized to the other 2 groups.32
Nonrandomized controlled trials
Stewart and Thomas33 treated 18 adults with extensive atopic dermatitis whose conditions had been resistant to conventional treatment with hypnotherapy. In a nonrandomized controlled study, they used relaxation, stress management, direct suggestion for nonscratching behavior and for skin comfort and coolness, ego strengthening, posthypnotic suggestions, and instruction in self-hypnosis. The results were statistically significant for reduction in itching, scratching, sleep disturbance, and tension. The use of topical corticosteroids decreased from the original amount by 40% at 4 weeks, 50% at 8 weeks, and 60% at 16 weeks. For milder cases of atopic dermatitis, hypnosis, along with moisturizing, can be sufficient as a primary treatment. For more extensive or resistant atopic dermatitis, hypnosis can reduce the required amount of other conventional treatments.34
Case series
Gupta et al35 found a strong correlation between high stress reactivity and depression in patients with alopecia areata. Willemson et al36 used hypnotherapy for 21 patients, 9 with alopecia universalis and 12 with extensive alopecia areata. After hypnotherapy, all patients had significantly lower anxiety and depression. Complete scalp hair regrowth occurred in 9 patients, including 4 with alopecia universalis and 2 with ophiasis. Over 75% scalp hair regrowth occurred in another 3 patients. Five patients had a significant relapse of alopecia. Hypnosis is appropriate as a stress reducer and sometimes is successful as a primary treatment method for alopecia areata.
Urticaria
Two cases of urticaria responding to hypnotic suggestion were reported in a study. The study included an 11-year-old boy whose urticarial reaction to chocolate could be blocked by hypnotic suggestion so that hives appeared on only one side of his face in response to that hypnotic suggestion. A case series study of hypnosis with relaxation therapy on 15 patients with chronic urticaria for an average duration of 7.8 years showed that within 14 months, 6 patients’ conditions had cleared and 8 had improved, with decreased medication requirements reported by 80% of patients. One patient’s condition did not improve. Hypnosis may be useful as a therapy for chronic urticaria.
Individual case reports
Acne excoriée
Hollander37 reported success in controlling the picking aspects of acne excoriée in 2 cases by using posthypnotic suggestion. While in a hypnotic state, the patient was instructed to remember the word scar whenever she wanted to pick her face and to refrain from picking by saying scar. The excoriations resolved but not the underlying acne. The author has also used this technique successfully.38 Hypnosis, combined with standard acne treatments for the acneiform aspects, may be an appropriate treatment of the excoriation aspect of acne excoriée.
Congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma
Several cases of remarkable clearing of congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma of Brocq have been reported following direct suggestion for clearing under hypnosis. For example, Kidd39 reported improvement in a 34-year-old father and his 4-year-old son. Hypnosis, in addition to the use of emollients, may potentially be useful.
Dyshidrotic dermatitis
Reduction in the severity of dyshidrotic dermatitis has been reported with the use of hypnosis as a treatment. Greisemer’s6 data indicate a significant psychosomatic component for dyshidrosis; therefore, hypnosis may be useful as a therapy.
Resolution of erythema nodosum of 9-year duration occurred in a 44-year-old woman after hypnoanalysis.13 Five of the 7 key COMPASS factors were positive in this case.
Erythromelalgia
One case report exists of successful treatment of erythromelalgia in an 18-year-old woman using hypnosis alone followed by self-hypnosis. Permanent resolution occurred.
Furuncles
Jabush40 described a 33-year-old man with recurrent (since age 17 y), multiple furuncles that containedStaphylococcus aureus; the furuncles were unresponsive to multiple treatment modalities. The patient had a negative self-image. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis with imagined sensations of warmth, cold, tingling, and heaviness resulted in dramatic improvement over 5 weeks, with full resolution of the recurrent furuncles. He also substantially improved from a mental standpoint. The hypnosis was hypothesized to have helped in some way to normalize the immune response to the bacteria. Conventional antibiotic therapy is the first line of treatment for furuncles; however, in unusually resistant cases with significant psychosomatic overlay, hypnosis may help to end the recurrent cycles of infection.
Glossodynia
When oral pain has a psychogenic component, hypnosis may be effective as a primary treatment. Even with organic disease, hypnosis may temporarily relieve pain.41
Lessening of discomfort from herpes simplex eruptions is similar to that for postherpetic neuralgia. Reduction in the frequency of recurrences of herpes simplex following hypnosis has also been reported. In cases with an apparent emotional trigger factor, hypnotic suggestion may be useful as a therapy for reducing the frequency of recurrence.
Hypnosis and autogenic training may be useful as adjunctive therapies for hyperhidrosis.
A 33-year-old man with chronic ichthyosis vulgaris that was better in the summer and worse in the winter began hypnotic suggestion therapy in the summer and was able to maintain the summer improvement throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Hypnosis may be useful as an adjunct therapy for ichthyosis.
Both the pruritus and the lesions may be reduced in selected cases by using hypnosis as a therapy for lichen planus.
Neurodermatitis
Several cases of neurodermatitis have reportedly resolved by using hypnosis as a therapy. Neurodermatitis remained resolved, with up to 4 years of follow-up.42 Iglesias43 reported 3 cases of neurodermatitis that failed to respond to direct suggestion under hypnosis but that responded to hypnoanalysis with ideomotor signaling followed by reframing. Hypnosis may be useful as a therapy for neurodermatitis.
Reduction of pruritus and resolution of lesions have been reported with the use of hypnotic suggestion as complementary therapy for nummular dermatitis.
The pain of acute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia can be reduced by hypnosis. Hypnosis may have a place as a therapy for postherpetic neuralgia.
Pruritus
The intensity of pruritus may be modified and improved by hypnosis. For example, a man with chronic myelogenous leukemia had intractable pruritus, which improved with hypnotic suggestion. Hypnosis may be used as a therapy for intractable pruritus.
Improvement of rosacea, especially the vascular blush component, has been reported in selected cases of resistant rosacea where hypnosis has been added as a therapy.
Several cases of successful adjunctive treatment of trichotillomania with hypnosis have been reported. Hypnosis may be a useful therapy for trichotillomania.44
Hautmann and Panconesi45 detailed the psychoneuroendocrinimmunologic aspects and mechanisms of vitiligo. Occasional cases of vitiligo have improved by using hypnotic suggestion as a therapy.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is currently an underused therapy in dermatology. In appropriately selected patients, it can decrease or eliminate symptoms, and, in some cases, it can induce lasting remissions or cures of skin diseases. Discussing this option with patients allows the dermatologist to gauge the patient’s receptiveness to this treatment modality. The time requirements for screening patients, educating them about realistic expectations for results from hypnosis, and performing the hypnotherapy are generally no longer than those for screening, preparing, and educating patients about cutaneous surgery and then performing it.
Many dermatologists choose to refer patients with complex cutaneous surgical problems to competent specialists in dermatologic surgery. Likewise, many dermatologists choose to refer patients with complex psychosomatic dermatologic problems to competent specialists in hypnosis-assisted therapy. Those dermatologists who prefer to refer patients to hypnotherapists may obtain referrals and information from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis or similar professional organizations.
Advantages of medical hypnotherapy for skin diseases include the ability to obtain a response where other treatment modalities have failed; the ability to reduce relapses; and the ability of patients to self-treat and gain a sense of control when taught self-hypnosis reinforced by using audiotapes, nontoxicity, and cost-effectiveness. Adding this treatment can result in pleased and grateful patients.
Disadvantages of medical hypnotherapy in dermatology include the extensive training required; the low hypnotizability of some patients; the negative social attitudes still prevalent about hypnosis; and the lower reimbursement rates for cognitive therapies, such as hypnosis, when compared with procedural therapies, such as cutaneous surgery. The low hypnotizability of some individuals is consistent over time, as measured by the Hypnotic Induction Profile.
Training in Medical Hypnotherapy
The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis offers weekend, regionally held, 20-hour courses in beginning, intermediate, and advanced hypnosis. Information may be obtained from its Web site (ie, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis). Other organizations also offer training. Mentors are available once the practitioner has obtained the necessary basic training.
Legal Requirements for Practicing Medical Hypnotherapy
In the United States, a state license is required to practice medicine. The exact details in terms of legal limitations vary from state to state; therefore, checking state statutes is recommended and imperative. In some states (eg, Florida), the practice of hypnotherapy is limited to licensed practitioners. The training requirements depend on the type of license. Outside of the United States, most jurisdictions have their own laws or statutes that dictate who may legally practice hypnosis. One should check for details in his or her local area.
As with all medical procedures, informed consent is crucial before proceeding with medical hypnotherapy. Although it does not need to be a written consent, informed consent should be well documented in the patient’s chart if no written form is signed by the patient.
In many states, prior hypnosis may be considered to taint the memory with respect to legal testimony given by patients if they are plaintiffs, victims, or witnesses. If the area to be addressed by medical hypnotherapy might be open to future litigation, the credibility of the patient’s testimony may suffer. This potential legal issue should be included in the informed consent discussion.
Delving into repressed memories is a legally risky issue because of legal claims by patients that therapists have created false memories. Only adequately trained physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists who know how to avoid asking leading questions should venture into this area.
The above information is not warranted to be legally correct. If indicated by the situation, conferring with a qualified attorney to obtain legal advice is recommended.
Suitable candidates for the use of hypnosis are patients who are mentally intact; not psychotic or intoxicated; motivated, not resistant; and preferably moderately or highly hypnotizable, as rated by the Hypnotic Induction Profile described by Spiegel and Spiegel or by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale and its variants. However, a moderate or high degree of hypnotizability is not critical to the success of self-guided imagery for relaxation and discomfort reduction.
Patient selection is an important aspect of successful medical hypnotherapy in dermatology. Hypnosis-assisted therapy works best in moderately to highly hypnotizable patients who are appropriately motivated and who have dermatoses with a large psychosomatic component or are otherwise known to be responsive to intervention with hypnosis. As with any therapy, starting with simple, easy cases is best, referring the more complex cases to those with more experience. As the practitioner gains experience, more difficult cases may be added.
When appropriately applied, hypnosis can be effective and gratifying in many cases. It is not a panacea. Although it appears to work miracles for some and to fail completely for others, most results lie somewhere in between. A key factor in producing positive results is the specific type of therapy chosen to be assisted by hypnosis. Careful selection of the disease process, the patient, and the provider, as well as appropriate use of hypnosis, can decrease suffering and morbidity from skin disorders with minimal adverse effects.
For moren information on Dr. Philip Shenefelt visit: http://health.usf.edu/medicine/dermatology/bios/bio_shenefelt.htm