The effectiveness of standardized versus individualized hypnotic suggestions: a brief communication

The results of a number of studies indicate that hypnotizability is a relatively stable trait that has some predictive value for therapy outcome. Some authors argue, however, that hypnotizability scores are artifacts of standardized test procedures, and that more people will benefit from hypnosis when a broader range of suggestions is used. The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of standardized versus individualized suggestions. In a crossover design, counterbalanced for order of presentation, 48 Ss were tested twice: once with the Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale: Adult (SHCS: Adult) of Morgan and J. R. Hilgard (1975) and once with an individualized equivalent of SHCS: Adult. The results of this comparison showed no significant differences between the 2 methods. The present study does not support the concept of hypnotizability scores as artifacts of standardized measurements.