EFFECT OF HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION ON THE DELAYED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY RESPONSE

Objective.-To determine whether individuals selected for good general health, high hypnotizability, and the ability to alter skin temperatur e under hypnotic suggestion can influence the delayed-type hypersensit ivity (DTH) response to varicella-zoster (VZ) antigen under hypnotic s uggestion. Design.-A blinded clinical trial using a repeated measures design with subjects serving as their own controls. Subjects were rand omly assigned to undergo a predetermined sequence of four different ex perimental conditions, occurring at weekly intervals, with each condit ion including VZ skin testing: (1) hypnosis with suggestions to enhanc e the DTH response to VZ antigen; (2) hypnosis with suggestions to sup press the DTH response; (3) hypnosis with suggestions for relaxation o nly; and (4) skin testing without hypnosis. Setting.-A National Instit utes of Health-supported clinical research center in a teaching hospit al. Subjects.-A stratified sample of 24 ambulatory, healthy, highly hy pnotizable, volunteer college students selected for their above-averag e ability to alter skin temperature after hypnotic suggestions and the ir positive baseline responses to VZ antigen. There were 11 males and 13 females with a mean+/-SD age of 22+/-6 years. The mean+/-SD hypnoti zability score (Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility) was 11 +/-1. Interventions.-Intradermal skin testing with VZ antigen (Mantoux method) and hypnotic suggestion. Main Outcome Measures.-Areas of indu ration of the DTH response measured at 24 and 48 hours after injection of antigen. Results.-The area of the DM response was not affected by the experimental interventions. The area of erythema was likewise unaf fected.