| Hypnosis has a definite value in the practice | | | | which otherwise could not be attacked. |
| of medicine, which was shown very early in | | | | |
| its history, and as medical men acquire a | | | | Also of paramount importance is the fact that |
| better understanding of psychology, its value | | | | the hypnotized patient is in a receptive |
| will probably increase. In general practice | | | | state for psychotherapy. The difficulty |
| the technique can be utilized to quiet and | | | | involved in getting patients to accept |
| reassure the patient and to establish that | | | | therapeutic suggestions directly constitutes |
| desirable state of rapport between physician | | | | the greatest obstacle in psychotherapy. |
| and patient . | | | | Hypnosis renders the person receptive. |
| | | | Indeed, as has been mentioned before, it is a |
| In Europe, particularly in Germany and | | | | state of enhanced suggestibility. |
| France, it has been used to some extent as a | | | | Consequently, by means of hypnotism it is |
| direct surgical aid in both major and minor | | | | possible to implant therapeutic ideas upon |
| procedures. In certain patients it can be | | | | the subconsciousness and to have them take |
| used as a substitute for drugs in producing | | | | effect when endless numbers of suggestions |
| anaesthesia, and since the time of Esdaille | | | | given in the waking state would be given no |
| it has been used repeatedly for this purpose. | | | | heed or even actively resisted. Thus the |
| It has the advantage over anaesthetics of | | | | patient accepts hypnotic suggestions and acts |
| affording the patient peace of mind, a sense | | | | upon them without conscious awareness and |
| of security and confidence, and it has no | | | | without building defense reactions. In so |
| afteraffects. However, even at the present | | | | doing he allows them to become a valid part |
| day its application in the field of surgery | | | | of his mental patterns, all the more so since |
| should be limited properly to the minor field | | | | fundamentally, if not immediately, he does |
| until the general medical practitioner as | | | | desire aid against his conflicts. By this |
| well as the laity have a better understanding | | | | means patients can be given new mental |
| of psychological manifestations. | | | | equipment wherewith to deal with their |
| | | | difficulties, a new equipment which does not |
| It has also been used successfully in | | | | have to pass the protective scrutiny of their |
| obstetrics and undoubtedly would be used much | | | | consciousness. |
| more if there were not such a | | | | |
| misapprehensive, fearful attitude toward it. | | | | Hypnosis is not to be looked upon as panacea |
| A primary objection to its use by the medical | | | | nor is it to be discarded because it has |
| man, remediable by proper study of the | | | | definite limitations. On the contrary, it is |
| practice, is the difficulty experienced in | | | | a valuable addition to the medical |
| inducing and maintaining trances. No | | | | armamentarium, most particularly to that of |
| hypnotists know for a certainty whether or | | | | the psychiatrist. |
| not they are going to succeed with a | | | | |
| particular subject at a given time or whether | | | | Perhaps the most fertile and productive |
| their technique for the occasion will be | | | | application of hypnotism is in the sphere of |
| sufficient for the maintenance of the trance. | | | | experimental psychology. More and more |
| But this is more fortunate than otherwise, | | | | laboratories are becoming interested in the |
| since the therapeutic and medical application | | | | peculiar and significant problems which |
| of hypnosis should not be taken lightly or | | | | hypnosis renders available for study. This |
| left in the hands of the dilettante. | | | | rapidly increasing interest in experimental |
| | | | hypnotism both in this country and abroad may |
| In the field of psychological medicine, | | | | be taken as an indication of a growing |
| however, hypnosis offers a unique approach to | | | | realization of the fruitfulness of hypnosis |
| many mental problems and difficulties. Its | | | | as a field of scientific research. It |
| value lies in the fact that it allows the | | | | constitutes almost a virginal territory for |
| physician to approach directly the | | | | psychological investigations, and it appears |
| subconsciousness of the person with its | | | | to offer a good approach to an understanding |
| disturbing conflicts. It often serves as a | | | | of many mental mechanisms which have hitherto |
| gateway through his resistances and allows | | | | defied comprehension. |
| indirect approaches to many difficulties | | | | |