Twenty years of scientific hypnosis in dentistry, medicine, and psychology: A brief communication

Abstract

This paper examines the number of hypnosis articles appearing over the past 20 years in the scientific literature. A comprehensive index of all hypnosis articles published from 1966 to 1985 was obtained by using 5 computer reference data bases (Psychological Abstracts, Index Medicus, Psych Info, Psych Alert, Medline, and Index to Dental Literature). Over 3,500 scientific articles on hypnosis were categorized as to year published (1966 to 1985); journal title; and journal discipline (dental, medical, psychological, core hypnosis specialty journals, and interdisciplinary journals). The period 1966–1969 witnessed a relative prominence of hypnosis articles. For the next 12 years, the number of articles modestly declined. During the most recent 4-year period (1982–1985) there has been a sharp increase, with more articles published in this period than any other. The authors conclude: (a) that there is a stable level of acceptance and interest in hypnosis methodologies across years and disciplines and (b) that this stability, along with the growth of hypnosis specialty journals, signals maturation of the field. A list of dental, medical, psychological, and interdisciplinary journals which publish hypnosis articles is included.