FACTORS PREDICTING HYPNOTIC ANALGESIA IN CLINICAL BURN PAIN

The use of hypnosis for treating pain from severe burn injuries has re ceived strong anecdotal support from case reports. Controlled studies provide less dramatic but empirically sound support for the use of hyp nosis with this problem. The mechanisms behind hypnotic analgesia for burn pain are poorly understood with this patient population, as they are with pain in general. It is likely that, whatever the mechanisms a re behind hypnotic pain analgesia, patients with burn injuries are mor e receptive to hypnosis than the general population. This article post ulates some variables that may account for this enhanced receptivity, including motivation, hypnotizability, dissociation, and regression.