Demystifying hypnosis: Unravelling facts, exploring the historical roots of myths, and discerning what is hypnosis.
Complementary therapies in clinical practice August 1, 2023 Dali Geagea, David Ogez, Roy Kimble et al. 11 citations
Hypnosis, a mind-body treatment with ancient roots, has shown effectiveness for distress, pain, and psychosomatic disorders, yet myths and misconceptions among the public and clinicians hinder its acceptance. This narrative review traces the history of those myths alongside hypnosis's evolution as a treatment, compares it to similar interventions, and presents evidence to demystify it. It distinguishes hypnotic from non-hypnotic procedures to clarify understanding, aiming to promote hypnosis in clinical and research settings. The review also highlights knowledge gaps needing further investigation to support evidence-based practice and optimize multimodal therapies that include hypnosis.