[Page 1721]For centuries, hypnosis has captivated the attention of clinicians, researchers, and the lay public. In the late 18th century, Franz Anton Mesmer was the first of many to recognize the immense power of suggestion to influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Today, hypnosis has moved into the mainstream of clinical practice and scientific inquiry, with a steadily accruing research base supporting its use as an adjunct treatment for a variety of disorders and conditions and as a catalyst to effective psychological interventions. Once condemned as mysticism, gimmickry, and charlatanism, hypnosis has been the subject of intensive study in laboratories around the world over the past few decades. Researchers have turned their attention to understanding a wide range of hypnotic phenomena, including hallucinations, amnesia, and the ...