Hypnotic Suggestibility Compared with other Methods of Isolating Emotionally-Prone Asthmatic Children

Abstract

Abstract This study was designed to determine the hypnotic suggestibility of a group of asthmatic children, to induce asthmatic attacks through hypnotic suggestion, and to compare hypnotic suggestibility with other methods of isolating emotionally-prone asthmatic children. Twenty asthmatic children were given first a Sham Allergen Test and then were hypnotized. Barber's Suggestibility Scale was administered under hypnosis. At the completion of the scale, suggestions for the development of bronchospasm were given for five minutes. The children and their parents were also interviewed to determine if any emotional precipitants of asthma had existed. The results contradicted some of the earlier findings. Even among the highly allergic children, some of their asthmatic attacks resulted from emotional causes. The asthmatic children were not more suggestible than the children in normal population. Various methods of isolating emotionally-prone asthmatic children were compared.