Positive intrasurgical suggestion fails to affect postsurgical pain

The present study explored the effect of positive intrasurgical suggestion during the anesthetic state on postsurgical pain. One-half of the patients who were undergoing elective cholecystectomy or hysterectomy received strong positive intrasurgical suggestion directed specifically towards reducing pain. The control patients received information about pain without suggestion content. There was no effect on postsurgical pain measured by the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a visual analogue scale. The lack of effect on postsurgical pain indicates that intrasurgical suggestion does not provide a therapeutic method to achieve pain control.