Drug use and hypnotic susceptibility
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis – January 01, 1972
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Individuals who have experimented with hallucinogens like psilocybin or mescaline exhibit greater hypnotic susceptibility. Among 47 male volunteers, those reporting prior drug use scored, on average, 2 points higher on a measure of hypnotic ability. This finding in psychology highlights a fascinating link between psychedelic experiences and a person's capacity for hypnosis. Such insights are valuable for clinical psychology and psychiatry, potentially informing applications in pain management, the placebo effect, and even mindfulness and compassion interventions, enriching drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract 47 undergraduate male volunteers were asked 2 questions relating to their use of marijuana and/or psychedelic drugs (e.g., LSD, mescaline, psilocybin) and were administered the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A). The HGSHS:A scores of Ss who had, at some time, taken any of these drugs averaged 2 points higher than scores of Ss who had not. Further research is needed to determine whether or not the relationship between drug use and hypnotizability is a causal one.