The author sent surveys to 178 consecutive youths previously referred for
hypnosis for
headaches. The survey sought current status of
headaches: treatment, application of
self-hypnosis,
headache intensity, frequency, duration after
self-hypnosis, generalization of
self-hypnosis to other problems, and attitudes regarding
self-hypnosis and life stresses. Of 134 delivered surveys, 52 were returned complete. Years
after treatment, 85% (44/52) reported continued relief with
self-hypnosis, 44% (23/52) reported decreased
headache frequency, 31% (16/52) noted decreased severity, and 56% (29/52) reported that
self-hypnosis reduced
headache intensity. Many (26/52) emphasized the value of
self-hypnosis to life stresses. In children and adolescents,
self-hypnosis is associated with significant improvement of
headaches and with an enduring positive effect for many years following training. Results suggest common and spontaneous generalizability of
self-hypnosis by young people to modulation of other problems in their lives.