Most research in smoking cessation has shown no intervention clearly superior or successful. Of those who return to smoking after abstaining, a subgroup includes those who do so incrementally, eventually reaching their former level. An approach aimed at this subgroup, originally used in a group setting, involves intensifying the desire to smoke (flooding) and then using hypnosis to desensitize this impulse. The underlying assumptions of the approach are that smoking is a habit requiring an act of will to change, and hypnosis can augment will power. In an individualized context, a group of 23 subjects were used to test this, specifically aiming at a subgroup of 7 who resumed smoking after briefly abstaining. A general hypnotic technique was used for the original subjects which included a follow-up home regimen of self-hypnosis. Seven individuals reported complete abstinence during follow-up. Seventeen reported a brief abstention only, and sought repeated treatment. The specific flooding and hypnotic and desensitization technique was used, again including a home regimen of self-hypnosis following the directed session. Of these seven, four individuals reported complete abstinence during the follow-up period. (Author/BMW)