Hypnotic Suggestions for Blister Formation: Subjective and Physiological Effects

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Abstract
The influence of hypnotic suggestions for blister formation on subsequent physiological and subjective responses was investigated. After the administration of a formal hypnotic induction procedure, each of 40 adult subjects was given (a) the suggestion that the back of one hand had been burned accidentally and (b) repeated suggestions that a blister was forming there. Although no blisters were evident as a result of this procedure, two of the subjects exhibited skin changes. Localized inflammation and swelling of the skin observed in one subject was attributed to self-injury. Localized inflammation observed in the other subject was interpreted as having a possible relationship to a genuine skin injury that the subject had suffered in the past. It was suggested that future research focus on the assessment of subjects with either (a) highly sensitive skin, or (b) a previous history of skin injury relevant to blister formation.

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