The Use of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Exhibitionism

The use of hypnosis in the treatment of exhibitionism is described in three patients in whom the condition had been present for more than five years. In each patient there was no subsequent recurrence of the exhibitionism once therapeutic suggestions had been made in a deep hypnotic trance, the follow-up period being respectively five years, four and a half years, and one year.The method of treatment and the results are discussed in terms of the concepts of behaviour therapy.It is concluded that with certain patients suffering from exhibitionism the use of hypnosis may well be one of the best methods of treatment, but considerable care should be exercised to exclude those patients with an underlying psychosis, mental defect or psychopathic condition. It is also noted that the efficacy of the treatment would appear to depend on achieving a satisfactory depth of hypnotic trance. If this is not reached, the results are less likely to be successful.