Hypnosis and suggestion-based approaches to smoking cessation: an examination of the evidence.
This article reviews 59 studies of hypnosis and smoking cessation as to whether the research empirically supports hypnosis as a treatment. Whereas hypnotic procedures generally yield higher rates of abstinence relative to wait-list and no-treatment conditions, hypnotic interventions are generally comparable to a variety of nonhypnotic treatments. The evidence for whether hypnosis yields outcomes superior to placebos is mixed. In short, hypnosis cannot be considered a specific and efficacious treatment for smoking cessation. Furthermore, in many cases, it is impossible to rule out cognitive/behavioral and educational interventions as the source of positive treatment gains associated with hypnotic treatments. Hypnosis cannot, as yet, be regarded as a well-established treatment for smoking cessation. Nevertheless, it seems justified to classify hypnosis as a "possibly efficacious" treatment for smoking cessation.
Green
J P
JP
Ohio State University, Lima 45804, USA.
Lynn
S J
SJ
D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000628:therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013404:Suggestion; D016896:Treatment Outcome