Evidence-based practice in clinical hypnosis: Current status and future directions.

Abstract

Evidence-based practice in health care is rooted in the assumption that clinical practice should be informed by scientific evidence. In psychology, evidencebased practice is defined as "the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences" (American Psychological Association, 2006, p. 273). In turn, best research evidence refers to "scientific results related to intervention strategies, assessment, clinical problems, and patient populations in laboratory and field settings as well as to clinically relevant results of basic research in psychology and related fields" (American Psychological Association, 2006, p. 274). Indeed, clinical expertise is said to be essential for integrating the best research evidence with clinical information in order to achieve the best outcome for the patient. This chapter builds upon the treatment outcome research reviewed in the main section of the book to appraise the current status of the efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment or intervention. The chapter concludes with suggestions designed to strengthen the evidence base supporting the use of hypnosis as a clinical tool.