HYPNOSIS AS ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY FOR MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - A PROGRESS REPORT

Several reports suggest that hypnosis can facilitate healing in variou s physical pathologies. This is a preliminary report, supported by thr ee cases. They demonstrate that suggestion by a hypnotist of symptom i mprovement can be used beneficially in the treatment of the physical i mpairment caused by Multiple Sclerosis. The first patient, severely af fected, had Multiple Sclerosis for over 35 years. He had been wheelcha ir bound for many years. The second, recently diagnosed and minimally affected, had difficulty with balance and walked with the aid of a can e. The third, also minimally affected, reported pain in her right leg. All three showed improvement either immediately or within several wee ks when the hypnotist suggested improvement or displacement of symptom s with the patients in hypnosis. No attempt was made to deal with psyc hodynamics or to suggest alternative symptoms to the patients. Symptom substitution did not occur. When symptoms improved, even slightly, th ese patients exhibited increased hopefulness.