The use of hypnosis for pain management

Hypnosis and Pain Management

What follows is an investigative report into the use of hypnosis to assist in pain management . This report is based upon a review of ten studies made on the subject of hypnosis and pain management . The goals of this work are to define some of the major terms and procedures that are involved in the subject and make a general but accurate assessment of the effectiveness of hypnosis as a tool for pain management . An annotated bibliography follows the conclusion

To start with , what exactly is pain management

and why would people turn to alternative procedures such as hypnosis ? Everybody knows what physical pain is , but to many people chronic pain is a long-term negative life detractor that can also cause clinical depression (Nickelson et al , 1999 . One researcher stated that chronic pain causes . delayed healing , prolonged hospitalization , and reduced participation in rehabilitation (Valente , 2006 . Of the many millions that suffer chronic pain in America and are issued pain killers to help manage that pain , it has been estimated that more than 40 will ultimately abuse their pain medicine in often vain and desperate attempts to find relief (Nickelson et al , 1999 . When prescription drugs ultimately fail to provide adequate pain relief , many will become depressed , and that is when a good physician will seek and offer alternative options for pain control such as .relaxation therapy biofeedback , guided imagery , and hypnosis (Nickelson et al , 1999

Yet another sort of pain is psychologically perceived . Take...