Empirical findings on the use of hypnosis in medicine: A critical review

Recent changes in health care have been characterized by an increased deman d for empirically supported treatments in medicine. Presently, there is mod erate support for the integration of hypnotic techniques in the treatment o f a number of medical problems. This critical review of the research litera ture focuses on the empirical research on the effectiveness of hypnotic tre atments as adjuncts to medical care for anxiety related to medical and dent al procedures, asthma, dermatological, diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, hemorrhagic disorders, nausea and emesis in oncology, and obstetrics/gynec ology. Wider acceptance of hypnosis as an intervention to assist with medic al care will require further research.