"Hypnotherapy Isn’t Magic, But It Helps Some Patients Cope With Surgery And Recovery"
Hypnotherapy — also called clinical hypnosis or hypnosurgery — has been used in Europe for minimally invasive procedures, such as hernia repair, lumpectomies, biopsies and some mastectomies in breast cancers for several decades. But in the United States, hospitals and doctors have shied away from the therapy. Now, however, some U.S. hospitals are offering hypnosis to patients to lessen preoperative anxiety, to manage postoperative pain and even to substitute for general anesthesia for partial mastectomies in breast cancer. According to Guy Montgomery, PhD, associate professor, of population health science and policy, oncological sciences and psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, “The technique is not magic, but it can make pain more manageable. He added, “I’m not saying they would have zero pain – although that may happen for some people – but let’s see if we can turn that dial down.”
— Guy H. Montgomery, PhD, Associate Professor, Population Health Science and Policy, Oncological Sciences, Psychiatry, Director, Center for Behavioral Oncology, Director, Postdoctoral Affairs, Director, Psychological Services, The Dubin Brest Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai