Predoctoral training in clinical hypnosis: A national survey of availabil ity and educator attitudes in schools of medicine, dentistry, and graduate clinical psychology

Abstract

Postcard questionnaires on the subject of training in clinical hypnosis were mailed to all doctoral training programs and internship centers in clinical psychology, dental schools, and medical schools which were fully approved by their respective accrediting associations. Considerable interest in hypnotic procedures at both predoctoral and postdoctoral levels was shown by all groups. Availability of training in hypnosis and favorable attitudes toward i t were closely related and both varied significantly acrom professional disciplines. The greatest amount of interest in predoctoral training, as well as availability of training, waa reported by psychologist respondents, but returns from internship centers specializing in the treatment of children ran contrary to this general trend. Medical and dental respondents were more inclined to downplay predoctoral work in favor of postdoctoral training. Present findings were compared with results from a similar survey conducted by Mow, Logan, and Lynch (1962), and possible reasons for the observed increase of interest in hypnosis were offered.