Psychological and hypnotic preparation for anesthesia and surgery: An individual diferences perspective1

Abstract

Multiple reviews indicate that psychological preparation for surgery can provide psychological, physiological, and economic benefit to the patient. Research demonstrating that hypnosis adds to this benefit is both limited and encouraging. The content and status of this literature, however, are confusing, with little coherent theoretical basis to account for the contradictions and inconsistencies across multiple studies whose methodologies often limit generalization. A model is pmenteci regarding pertinent individual differences that include patient coping styles, prior medical experiences, and hypnotic ability as well as diffenmces in types of coping demanded by different surgical plpceduns. This model (a) helps explain some of the confusion, at) offers a theoretical focus for patient assessment as well as development and selection of preparation strategies, and (c) clarifies future d goals.