Demystifying hypnosis: Unravelling facts, exploring the historical roots of myths, and discerning what is hypnosis.
Dali Geagea, David Ogez, Roy Kimble, Zephanie Tyack
Complementary therapies in clinical practice August 1, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101776 via PubMed
Summary
Hypnosis has been recognized for its effectiveness in treating various physiological and psychological issues, but misconceptions hinder its acceptance. This narrative review explores the historical myths surrounding hypnosis, contrasting them with factual evidence supporting its use as a treatment modality. It also clarifies the differences between hypnotic and non-hypnotic interventions, aiming to improve understanding and promote the adoption of hypnosis in clinical settings while identifying areas needing further research.
Study at a glance
| Design | narrative review |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The review highlights that myths and misconceptions about hypnosis have impeded its acceptance despite evidence supporting its effectiveness as a treatment modality. |
Abstract
Hypnosis, a mind-body treatment dating back to early human history, has regained attention in the last decade, with research suggesting its effectiveness for varied physiological and psychological ailments such as distress, pain, and psychosomatic disorders. However, myths and misconceptions have prevailed among the general public and clinicians, hindering the adoption and acceptance of hypnosis. It is important to distinguish myths from facts and discern what is hypnosis and what is not to enhance the understanding, acceptance, and adoption of hypnotic interventions. This narrative review traces the history of myths surrounding hypnosis in contrast to the evolution of hypnosis as a treatment modality. In addition to comparing hypnosis to other interventions with similar procedures and features, the review unravels misconceptions that have impeded the adoption and acceptance of hypnosis in clinical and research settings and presents evidence to demystify this intervention. This review examines the roots of myths while presenting historical facts and evidence that support hypnosis as a treatment modality and alleviate misconceptions depicting it as mystical. Further, the review distinguishes hypnotic and non-hypnotic interventions with overlapping procedures and phenomenological features to enhance our understanding of hypnotic techniques and phenomena. This review enhances the understanding of hypnosis in historical, clinical, and research contexts by disproving related myths and misconceptions to promote the adoption of hypnosis in clinical and research contexts. Further, this review highlights knowledge gaps requiring further investigations to steer research toward an evidence-based practice of hypnosis and optimise multimodal therapies embedding hypnosis.