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Dangers of Hypnosis FREE

Louis J. West, MD; Gordon H. Deckert, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to 800 NE 13th St, Oklahoma City 73104 (Dr. West).


From the Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine and University Hospitals (Drs. West and Deckert) and from the Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Hospital, Oklahoma City (Dr. Deckert).


JAMA. 1965;192(1):9-12. doi:10.1001/jama.1965.03080140015003
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Hypnosis as a technique in medical practice poses certain dangers to the patient, to the physician, to medicine as a discipline, and to hypnotism itself as a reputable body of information and methodology. At the same time hypnosis offers definite advantages as an adjunct to other methods in medicine and psychiatry; these advantages should be preserved. The dangers can be minimized by improved and expanded programs of research on hypnosis, more education concerning it both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in medical schools, and greater clarification of standards for its clinical employment. Over-commitment to hypnotism should be avoided by the clinician, who should at the same time be prepared to use this valuable maneuver when indicated.

REFERENCES

Deckert, G.H., and West, L.J.:  Hypnosis and Experimental Psychopathology , Amer J Clin Hypn 5:256-276 ( (April) ) 1963;.
Hofman-Bang, A.:  Complications and Dangers in Use of Hypnotism , Acta Psychiat Scand 21:365-374, 1946;.
Joseph, E.D.; Peck, S.M.; and Kaufman, M.R.:  Psychological Study of Neuro-Dermatitis With Case Report , J Mount Sinai Hosp NY 15:360-366 ( (March) -April) 1949;.
Rosen, H.: Hypnosis:  Applications and Misapplications , JAMA 172:683-687 ( (Feb 13) ) 1960;.
Rosen, H., and Bartemeier, L.H.:  Hypnosis in Medical Practice , JAMA 175:976-979 ( (March 18) ) 1961;.
Seitz, P.F.D.:  Symbolism and Organ Choice in Conversion Reactions , Psychosom Med 13:255-259 ( (July) -Aug) 1951;.
Erickson, M.H., and Brickner, R.M.:  Hypnotic Investigation of Psychosomatic Phenomena. II. Development of Aphasialike Reactions From Hypnotically Induced Amnesias , Psychosom Med 5:59-70 ( (Jan) ) 1943;.
Gill, M.:  Spontaneous Regression on Induction of Hypnosis , Bull Menninger Clin 12:41-48 ( (March) ) 1948;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Psychosomatic Reactions to Induction of Hypnosis , Dis Nerv Syst 11:118-212 ( (April) ) 1950;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Note on Spontaneous Hallucinations During Hypnosis , Psychiat Quart 24:492 ( (July 3) ) 1950;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Spontaneous Sensory and Motor Phenomena With Related Imagery During Hypnosis , Psychiat Quart ( (suppl) ) 30:26-33 (Jan) 1956;.
Hilgard, J.; Hilgard, E.R.; and Newman, M.:  Sequelae to Hypnotic Induction With Special Reference to Earlier Chemical Anesthesia , J Nerv Ment Dis 133:461-478 ( (Dec) ) 1961;.
Meldman, M.J.:  Personality Decompensation After Hypnotic Symptom Suppression , JAMA 173:359-361 ( (May 28) ) 1960;.
Teitel, B.:  Post-Hypnotic Psychosis and Law , in Scientific Papers of 117th Annual Meeting of American Psychiatric Association in Summary Form , Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1961;, pp 108-110.
Seitz, P.F.D.:  Experiments in Substitution of Symptoms in Hypnosis , Psychosom Med 15:405-424 ( (Sept) -Oct) 1953;.
West, L.J.:  Psychophysiology of Hypnosis , JAMA 172:672-675 ( (Feb 13) ) 1960;.
Brickner, R.M., and Kubie, L.S.:  Miniature Psychotic Storm Produced by Superego Conflict Over Simple Post-Hypnotic Suggestion . Psychoanal Quart 5:467-487 ( (Oct) ) 1936;.
West, L.J.; Niell, K.C.; and Hardy, J.D.:  Effects of Hypnotic Suggestion on Pain Perception and Galvanic Skin Response , Arch Neurol 68:549-560 ( (Oct) ) 1952;.
Deckert, G.H., and West, L.J.:  Problem of Hypnotizability , Int J Clin Exp Hypn 11:205-235 ( (April) ) 1963;.
Reiter, P.J.: Antisocial or Criminal Acts and Hypnosis: Case Study , Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas, Publishers, 1958;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Military Offense Induced by Hypnosis , J Nerv Ment Dis 106:186, 1947;.
Rosen, H.: Personal communication to the author, Nov 30, 1960.
Plunkett, R.J.:  Report on Medical Use of Hypnosis , JAMA 168:186-189 ( (Sept 13) ) 1958;.

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Deckert, G.H., and West, L.J.:  Hypnosis and Experimental Psychopathology , Amer J Clin Hypn 5:256-276 ( (April) ) 1963;.
Hofman-Bang, A.:  Complications and Dangers in Use of Hypnotism , Acta Psychiat Scand 21:365-374, 1946;.
Joseph, E.D.; Peck, S.M.; and Kaufman, M.R.:  Psychological Study of Neuro-Dermatitis With Case Report , J Mount Sinai Hosp NY 15:360-366 ( (March) -April) 1949;.
Rosen, H.: Hypnosis:  Applications and Misapplications , JAMA 172:683-687 ( (Feb 13) ) 1960;.
Rosen, H., and Bartemeier, L.H.:  Hypnosis in Medical Practice , JAMA 175:976-979 ( (March 18) ) 1961;.
Seitz, P.F.D.:  Symbolism and Organ Choice in Conversion Reactions , Psychosom Med 13:255-259 ( (July) -Aug) 1951;.
Erickson, M.H., and Brickner, R.M.:  Hypnotic Investigation of Psychosomatic Phenomena. II. Development of Aphasialike Reactions From Hypnotically Induced Amnesias , Psychosom Med 5:59-70 ( (Jan) ) 1943;.
Gill, M.:  Spontaneous Regression on Induction of Hypnosis , Bull Menninger Clin 12:41-48 ( (March) ) 1948;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Psychosomatic Reactions to Induction of Hypnosis , Dis Nerv Syst 11:118-212 ( (April) ) 1950;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Note on Spontaneous Hallucinations During Hypnosis , Psychiat Quart 24:492 ( (July 3) ) 1950;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Spontaneous Sensory and Motor Phenomena With Related Imagery During Hypnosis , Psychiat Quart ( (suppl) ) 30:26-33 (Jan) 1956;.
Hilgard, J.; Hilgard, E.R.; and Newman, M.:  Sequelae to Hypnotic Induction With Special Reference to Earlier Chemical Anesthesia , J Nerv Ment Dis 133:461-478 ( (Dec) ) 1961;.
Meldman, M.J.:  Personality Decompensation After Hypnotic Symptom Suppression , JAMA 173:359-361 ( (May 28) ) 1960;.
Teitel, B.:  Post-Hypnotic Psychosis and Law , in Scientific Papers of 117th Annual Meeting of American Psychiatric Association in Summary Form , Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1961;, pp 108-110.
Seitz, P.F.D.:  Experiments in Substitution of Symptoms in Hypnosis , Psychosom Med 15:405-424 ( (Sept) -Oct) 1953;.
West, L.J.:  Psychophysiology of Hypnosis , JAMA 172:672-675 ( (Feb 13) ) 1960;.
Brickner, R.M., and Kubie, L.S.:  Miniature Psychotic Storm Produced by Superego Conflict Over Simple Post-Hypnotic Suggestion . Psychoanal Quart 5:467-487 ( (Oct) ) 1936;.
West, L.J.; Niell, K.C.; and Hardy, J.D.:  Effects of Hypnotic Suggestion on Pain Perception and Galvanic Skin Response , Arch Neurol 68:549-560 ( (Oct) ) 1952;.
Deckert, G.H., and West, L.J.:  Problem of Hypnotizability , Int J Clin Exp Hypn 11:205-235 ( (April) ) 1963;.
Reiter, P.J.: Antisocial or Criminal Acts and Hypnosis: Case Study , Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas, Publishers, 1958;.
Schneck, J.M.:  Military Offense Induced by Hypnosis , J Nerv Ment Dis 106:186, 1947;.
Rosen, H.: Personal communication to the author, Nov 30, 1960.
Plunkett, R.J.:  Report on Medical Use of Hypnosis , JAMA 168:186-189 ( (Sept 13) ) 1958;.
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