Utilizing principles of clinical hypnosis for an effective communication with patients in managing chronic pain

Abstract

This report is an undertaking to illustrate the application of hypnosis in the initial patient doctor consultation to build better patient rapport. An effective communication in consultation leads to better rapport with the patient for a comprehensive chronic pain management. This case involves a young patient who presented with worsening body ache and insomnia. She sought consultations and treatment from 6 doctors. She was not satisfied with these consultations. All investigations showed negative clinical findings with same diagnosis from all doctors. She was seen in the author's pain clinic, for chronic pain management. Hypnotic principles were used to manage the consultations and as therapeutic option for her problems. In the initial consultation, the author used Rogerian approach in-cooperating hypnosis in establishing empathy with the patient. This was followed by formal hypnotic intervention as a therapeutic intervention. Patient's expectation was met and solved her initial presenting medical problem, which the patient was not able to achieve with previous consultations with 6 different doctors. Better management of patient's presenting complain should take into account the perceptions and interactions of patients and physicians. Physicians need to empathize, listen, elicit patients' beliefs and expectations, and offer a range of treatments including cognitive and behavioural therapies, tailored to individual needs. In this strategy, communication could be improved by applying basic principles of hypnotherapy. Doctor's dominance in relation to the patient-professional communication need to be reexamined.