On the Safety of Hypnosis

In Short

Hypnosis is a safe and effective approach to many health and wellness-related problems. To learn more about how hypnosis works in the brain, read On the Brain’s Activity during Hypnosis. People diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (especially dissociative, psychotic, or schizoaffective disorders) or neurological disorders (such as seizures) should consult their physicians before engaging in any psychological technique, including hypnosis.

In-Depth

Hypnosis has been used in the medical and psychological fields for centuries. Indeed, it was the first Western conception of psychotherapy. The scientific literature makes it clear that it is safe,1 with fewer risks than many widely used medications. Hypnosis is being used across the lifespan, with evidence-based benefits demonstrated in children [2], teenagers [2], adults, and older adults [3]. Due to its safety profile and effectiveness, hypnosis is one of the evidence-based Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) services to be recommended as clinically useful in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive 1137 – Provision of Complementary and Integrative Health (last amended in July 2021).

Are there any risks in hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a safe and effective skill that can help people enhance their approach to many health, wellness, and psychological problems. As in all forms of psychological techniques [4], some risks do exist. Although rare, most adverse effects associated with hypnosis are mild and short-lived [5]. In most cases, hypnosis in and of itself does not pose risks, but any technique that has the power to help can also be ineffective or, at worst, increase symptoms. For example, by urging people to focus on a problem in a way that enhances awareness of distress rather than helping people to control their discomfort. Reveri’s self-hypnosis protocols and the suggestions in them have been designed by Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and world-renowned hypnosis expert, Dr. David Spiegel.

Who should be cautious with psychological techniques?

There are specific cases where more serious adverse effects can occur, but they are rare and are most likely to occur in contexts very different than by using Reveri. For example, risks are far more likely to happen in stage hypnosis [5]. Additionally, the use of hypnosis and other suggestive techniques (such as guided imagery) for individuals with dissociative tendencies or suffering from dissociative disorders, and in people with psychotic or schizoaffective disorders should be conducted by licensed and trained medical or psychological professionals [4].

Bottom Line

When done correctly and responsibly, hypnosis is safe and often effective. In fact, hypnosis is safer than many medications people often take to address similar concerns. Hypnosis is not in and of itself a treatment but rather a skill our brains can use to facilitate change and problem-solving. There is very little evidence to suggest risks in hypnosis, and it is mostly based on clinical anecdotes (e.g., “case studies”) rather than clinical trials. People diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (especially dissociative, psychotic, or schizoaffective disorders) or neurological disorders (such as seizures) should consult their physicians before engaging in any psychological technique, including hypnosis, to be sure that they are receiving any necessary medical treatment.

References

  1. Häuser, W., Hagl, M., Schmierer, A. & Hansen, E. The Efficacy, Safety and Applications of Medical Hypnosis. Dtsch. Ärztebl. Int. 113, 289–296 (2016).

  2. Sugarman, L. L. & Wester II, W. Therapeutic Hypnosis with Children and Adolescents: Second edition. (Crown House Publishing, 2014).

  3. Cordi, M. J., Hirsiger, S., Mérillat, S. & Rasch, B. Improving sleep and cognition by hypnotic suggestion in the elderly. Neuropsychologia 69, 176–182 (2015).

  4. Lilienfeld, S. O. Psychological Treatments That Cause Harm. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 2, 53–70 (2007).

  5. Gruzelier, J. Unwanted effects of hypnosis: a review of the evidence and its implications. Contemp. Hypn. 17, 163–193 (2000).

About the author:

Afik Faerman, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. He completed his doctoral training in clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology, and his clinical training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Afik’s research centers on identifying key neurocognitive mechanisms in clinical change, focusing on hypnosis, pain, and sleep. His research was supported and acknowledged by the American Psychological Association, the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, and the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis.