Hypnosis as Adjunctive Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: A Progress Report

Abstract

Several reports suggest that hypnosis can facilitate healing in various physical pathologies. This is a preliminary report, supported by three cases. They demonstrate that suggestion by a hypnotist of symptom improvement can be used beneficially in the treatment of the physical impairment caused by Multiple Sclerosis. The first patient, severely affected, had Multiple Sclerosis for over 35 years. He had been wheelchair bound for many years. The second, recently diagnosed and minimally affected, had difficulty with balance and walked with the aid of a cane. The third, also minimally affected, reported pain in her right leg. All three showed improvement either immediately or within several weeks when the hypnotist suggested improvement or displacement of symptoms with the patients in hypnosis. No attempt was made to deal with psychodynamics or to suggest alternative symptoms to the patients. Symptom substitution did not occur. When symptoms improved, even slightly, these patients exhibited increased hopefulness.