Medical Referrals for Hypnotherapy: Opinions of Physicians, Residents, Family Practice Outpatients, and Psychiatry Outpatients

Abstract

Previous studies surveying attitudes and education regarding the clinical use of hypnosis have been conducted with patient populations only. The current study was undertaken to assess the attitudes, experiences, training levels, and interest in future education regarding the use of hypnosis by staff physicians, medical resident physicians, family practice outpatients, and psychiatry outpatients. All subjects were drawn from a 400-physician group practice in Central Texas affiliated with a large university health science center. Results indicate that the majority of physicians (79%) and residents (67%) had received no prior training and even fewer had experienced hypnosis. The percentages for personal experience with hypnosis were similar for psychiatric outpatients, physicians, and residents. The need for patient and practitioner education was elucidated by the high rate of endorsement of misconceptions regarding hypnosis by patients (over half) and by some medical practitioners as well. Limited awareness of the appropriate applications of hypnosis was reported. However, 85% of practitioners expressed an interest in hypnosis education. Further research in medical setting demographics is recommended to validate generalizability of results and facilitate construction of medical education programs in hypnosis.