Hypnotic analgesia

Abstract

Hypnosis has been used for centuries to treat various types of pain problems. Anecdotal reports of its efficacy have been around since the early 1800s, but only recently has sophisticated research advanced the field. This paper will summarize the theoretical and clinical foundations of hypnotic analgesia, as well as offer recommendations for increasing its efficacy and improving future research to advance the field.

Keywords::

• acute pain managment
• chronic pain management
• hypnosis
• hypnotic analgesia
• nonpharmacological pain management

Acknowledgements

David R Patterson has received the following awards from the NIH: R01 GM42725–09A1 and 1 R01AR054115–01A1, and funding from the ScanDesign by Inger & Jens Bruun Foundation.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.