Hypnosis in the 1990s—and Beyond

Abstract

For this Presidential Address, I accepted the challenge to discuss my perception of the future directions of hypnotherapy. I believe that the next decade will bring increased attention to the mind/body relationship and how hypnosis can be most effectively employed in this area. As an oncologist, one of the most exciting areas of current research is in psychoneuroimmunology. The role of communication in the practice of the health sciences is receiving more emphasis. Training in hypnosis is helpful in recognizing spontaneous trance states which may modify the effects of “nocebos.” The use of hypnoanesthesia for surgery would be ideal in third world and developing countries. I believe there will be increased interest in the use of hypnosis in self-care, in the forensic area, and in the use of self-hypnosis by the general population. Finally, I expect that in the next decade the ASCH and SCEH will cooperate more closely in many areas of significance to hypnosis.