Frankel, F. H., & Orne, M. T. Hypnotizability and phobic behavior. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1976, 33, 1259-1261.

Hypnotizability and Phobic Behavior

Fred H. Frankel, MB, ChB, DPM,

Martin T. Orne, MD, PhD

• Hypnotizability ratings of 24 phobic patients interested in the therapeutic use of hypnosis were compared with those of an equal number of smokers keen to quit smoking through hypnosis. The mean Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale score of phobics was 8.08 on a 12-point scale. The mean of smokers was 6.08. The difference was significant beyond the .01 level (two­tailed). Thirty percent of smokers were essentially nonresponsive. No phobics were nonresponsive. Those with multiple phobias scored more highly than those with a single phobia.

These findings are in accord with the view that among psychiatric patients whose hypnotizability is assessed in a treatment context, hysterics are most responsive. The implications both for theory and for a specific treatment strategy are discussed.

The preceding abstract is a reproduction of the abstract from the following article (Frankel, F. H., & Orne, M. T. Hypnotizability and phobic behavior. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1976, 33, 1259-1261.). It is reproduced here with the kind permission of the American Medical Association. Copyright ©1976 American Medical Association.