A study published by Harvard Medical School indicates that hypnotherapy significantly reduced adverse events in the treatment of cancer patients.  The study, which compared hypnosis to empathy therapy, in the treatment of percutaneous tumors, conclude that hypnotherapy produced far superior results than mere empathetic techniques.  The study also noted that those patients who received hypnotherapy required less drugs and experienced less anxiety.  The Harvard study concluded by noting: ” Procedural hypnosis including empathic attention reduces pain, anxiety, and medication use. Conversely, empathic approaches without hypnosis that provide an external focus of attention and do not enhance patients’ self-coping can result in more adverse events. These findings should have major implications in the education of procedural personnel.”  To check out the full synopsis click here:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18503905.