Medical hypnosis is an evidence-informed psychological intervention that has attracted increasing attention within modern healthcare, particularly in the context of pain management, anxiety reduction, stress regulation, and the support of patients coping with medical procedures and chronic illness.
This lecture will provide a theoretical introduction to medical hypnosis from a psychological perspective, exploring the nature of hypnotic states, the role of attention, suggestibility, imagination, and altered states of consciousness. Particular attention will be given to the psychological mechanisms underlying hypnosis and the ways in which these processes may influence perception, emotional regulation, cognition, and subjective experiences of pain
and distress.
The lecture will also address common misconceptions and myths surrounding hypnosis, distinguishing clinical and medical hypnosis from stage hypnosis and popular representations of hypnosis in the media. Ethical considerations, the role of the therapeutic relationship, patient autonomy, and the importance of professional competence will be discussed as essential components of responsible clinical practice.
The aim of the theoretical part is to provide participants with a scientifically grounded understanding of medical hypnosis and its potential role as a complementary psychological
approach within multidisciplinary healthcare.