Role of hypnosis and self-hypnosis in cognitive-behavioral interventions

The interest on hypnosis as an area of research, has burgeoned in the last decades at a level only comparable to that at the end of the last Century. Only lack of specific knowledge can bring about the rejection of a series of procedures that are proving to be of considerable importance as adjuncts to psychological treatments, particularly cognitive-behavioral ones (Lazarus, 1973; Kirsch, Montgomery, & Sapirstein, 1995). The tendency to include hypnosis within psychological treatments is prevalent in the other advanced countries (Capafons, 1995a). The rejection of hypnosis among some psychotherapists can only be explained by myths and wrong beliefs (Capafons, 1998). It is also true, nonetheless, that a change in this attitude is exemplified by the prominent manuals of behavior modification published recently in Spain (e.g., Caballo, 1991; Labrador, Cruzado & Muñoz, 1993; Vallejo & Ruiz, 1993). They include chapters on hypnosis although, paradoxically, only one is written from a cognitivebehavioral perspective, in contrast with the main approach of such manuals. Hypnosis is a very efficient way to use suggestion, but not the only one (Amigó, Psicothema, 1998. Vol. 10, no 3, pp. 571-581 ISSN 0214 9915 CODEN PSOTEG Copyright © 1998 Psicothema