Center for the Advancement of Health - Who We Are -
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Published on: 7/11/1999
Last Visited: 8/14/2000
Surgery is a major life stress that patients can participate in alleviating, says research psychologist Henry L. Bennett, PhD, president of Patient Comfort, Inc., in Chatham, NJ.
Bennett uses the power of suggestion to prepare patients for surgery.He describes it this way : You involve them in the operative process.There is a sense of active involvement, saying to the patient : We would like your help.It will be better for you and better for us.I would like to speak with you about becoming a more active participant in your anesthesia and your surgical repair.'.
While under anesthesia, his patients be not expected to do anything consciously.Instead, their body functions respond involuntarily, such as the way blood flows to your face and makes you blush when you be embarrassed.
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Bennett calls behavioral interventions for surgery win-win-win programs.Patients are more satisfied because they participated in their recovery, surgeons win because they have happier patients, and health providers save money.
Bennett has tried to persuade hospitals, HMOs, and other medical institutions to offer behavioral intervention programs like his but says I have yet to be successful in implementing any kind of program, despite my offers to do it essentially for free..
The Hypnotized, Not the Hypnotist
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Bennett, H et al. (1993) Preparing for Surgery and Medical Procedures, Mind-Body Medicine, Goleman, D and Gurin, J, eds., Consumer Reports Books, Yonkers, NY, pp. 401-427.Bennett, HL et al. (1986) Preoperative Instruction for Decreased Bleeding During Spine Surgery, Anesthesiology 65 : A245.Crawford, HJ et al. (January 1998) Hypnotic Analgesia : Somatosensory Event-Related Potential Changes to Noxious Stimuli, and Transfer Learning to Reduce Chronic Low Back Pain, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, pp. 92-132.Disbrow, ED, Bennett, HL et al. (May 1993) Effect of Preoperative Suggestion on Postoperative Gastrointestinal Motility, Western Journal of Medicine, pp. 488-492JAMA (July 24-31, DATE : [ 07/24/1931 ]NIH Technology Assessment Panel on Integration of Behavioral and Relaxation Approaches in the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia pp. 313-318.