SummaryThe purpose of the study was to investigate the effect on alcoholics of a simple hypnotic treatment with suggestions about indifference to alcohol and general well‐being, as a result of sobriety. 40 patients received such treatment at foe seances and were compared during a six months' observation time with a non‐hypnotic group of 40 patients, who had received psychotherapy at five visits. The groups were compared with regard only to objectively measured variables which indicated among other things inability to work and the need of medical care. No statistically significant differences mere found between the groups, but the trend in the results is in favour of the hypnosis group. The methodological difficulties are discus