Hypnosis as a modulator of cellular immune dysregulation during acute stress

To assess the influence of a hypnotic intervention on cellular immune funct ion during a commonplace stressful event, the authors selected 33 medical a nd dental students on the basis of hypnotic susceptibility. Initial blood s amples were obtained during a lower stress period, and a second sample was drawn 3 days before the first major exam of the term. Half of the participa nts were randomly assigned to hypnotic-relaxation training in the interval between samples. Participants in the hypnotic group were, on average, prote cted from the stress-related decrements that were observed in control parti cipants' proliferative responses to 2 mitogens, percentages of CD3(+) and C D4(+) T-lymphocytes, and interleukin 1 production by peripheral blood leuko cytes. More frequent hypnotic-relaxation practice was associated with highe r percentages of CD3(+) and CD4(+) T-lymphocytes. These data provide encour aging evidence that interventions may reduce the immunological dysregulatio n associated with acute stressors.