Ericksonian Hypnosis: A Review Of the Empirical Data

and valid clinical tool used by a wide variety of health care professionals. Since the 18 century, hypnosis has been practiced in varying styles and approach, from Anton Mesmer's use of his own perceived animal magnetism, to Sigmund Freud's authoritarian and directive style, to that of Milton Erickson's flexible and utilitarian approach. As practiced by Freud and others in the last century, hypnosis was used as a treatment modality for symptom removal or relief. As Kirsch, Lynn, Rhue (1) indicated, hypnosis, in its current use, is practiced not as an exclusive treatment modality but rather as an adjunct to some other form of psychotherapy. An important question prior to considering the specific claims of Ericksonian hypnotherapy is whether hypnosis as a clinical intervention enhances the effectiveness of treatment. Kirsch et al (2) concluded that the effect of adding hypnosis to psychotherapy is substantial, and was found to be particularly useful in the treatment of obesity, especially at long-term follow-up intervals where the effect of losing weight remained. Thus, in the most general of statements, hypnosis as an ancillary form of treatment is effective. Given these data, two basic questions become relevant: (1) How effective is a given approach to hypnosis as compared to other approaches?; and (2) What elements within a given approach are central to its effectiveness? The Influence of Milton Erickson