Psychosocial Genomics Research Articles

The psychosocial genomics paradigm of hypnosis and mind–body integrated psychotherapy: experimental evidence

ABSTRACT The psychosocial genomics paradigm first proposed by Ernest Rossi established an epistemological shift in our application of hypnosis. We present original experimental research conducted within this paradigm that highlights the mind–gene relationship and, in particular, the positive health effects associated with hypnosis and mind–body integrated psychotherapy. We document that these approaches can stimulate epigenetic modifications and the expression of genes related to anti-inflammatory processes. These strategies strengthen the immune system and reduce oxidative stress both in normal and in oncological participants.

A Psychosocial Genomics Pilot Study in Oncology for Verifying Clinical, Inflammatory and Psychological Effects of Mind-Body Transformations-Therapy (MBT-T) in Breast Cancer Patients: Preliminary Results.

Several studies have highlighted the key role of chronic inflammation in breast cancer development, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic outcome. These processes are mediated through a variety of cytokines and hormones that exert their biological actions either locally or distantly via systemic circulation. Recent findings suggest that positive psychosocial experiences, including psychotherapeutic interventions and therapeutic mind-body protocols, can modulate the inflammatory response by reducing the expression of genes/proteins associated with inflammation and stress-related pathways. Our preliminary results indicate that a specific mind-body therapy (MBT-T) could induce a significant reduction of the release of different cytokines and chemokines, such as SCGFβ, SDF-1α, MCP3, GROα, LIF, and IL-18, in the sera of breast cancer patients compared to a control group, suggesting that MBT-T could represent a promising approach to improve the wellness and outcome of breast cancer patients.

Hypnosis as Sole Anesthesia for Dental Removal in a Patient with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

ABSTRACT Despite a number of studies on hypnosis as analgesia and anesthesia in several medical conditions, case studies on patients with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are still relatively few. This case study is about a female patient with MCS who underwent dental removal using hypnosis as the sole anesthesia. The paradigm in which we work is psychosocial genomics of clinical hypnosis. We used the mind-body transformations therapy, one of the clinical methods of the psychosocial genomics paradigm. In order to induce not only effective analgesia and anesthesia but also a condition of well-being, problem-solving, effective coping and self-empowerment in our patient, 3 different hypnotic protocols were used in a multidimensional approach. Although further research is needed, our work might open up new scenarios for the application of hypnosis as sole anesthesia in conditions such as MCS.

Psicoterapia e neuroscienze: il modello strategico ad orientamento neuroscientifico e il metodo mente - corpo

In this paper we illustrate an innovative and effective model called Neuroscientific Strategic Psychotherapy. This model originates from the combination of integrative-strategic and psychosocial and cultural genomics approaches in psychotherapy. From a holistic perspective of human functioning, we integrated modern neuroscientific findings in psychotherapy and genomics thus developing a therapeutic protocol called the Mind-Body Transformations Therapy. We also developed an interdisciplinary research method that aims to investigate the translational mechanisms which have shown interesting connections between mind-body interventions and the immune system. Mind-body interventions have proven to be effective in reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory genes associated with stress. In line with these studies, our research team has explored the genomic-molecular basis of our protocol by means of bioinformatic software and DNA microarray. After a single session of Mind-Body Transformations Therapy, we found patterns of experience-dependent gene expression that are associated with stem cell activation, and a reduction of inflammation, cell stress and epigenetic variations. Along this line of research, we are implementing the Psychosocial Genomics Research Program in Oncology. This program aims to evaluate the effects of the Mind-Body Transformations Therapy on cancer patients. Through the study of human genome, we also aim to understand the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effectiveness of our protocol. From the clinical and empirical results we have obtained so far, we can state that combining strategic psychotherapy with neuroscientific findings has allowed us to develop an evidence-based model that facilitates mind-body healing and helps the treatment of several mental and psychosomatic conditions. Keywords: psychosocial genomics, Mind-Body Transformations Therapy, neuroscience

Neuroscience of child and adolescent health development.

Recent advances in technology and neuroscience have increased our understanding of human neurodevelopment. In particular, research on neuroplasticity and psychosocial genomics lends compelling support to a biopsychosocial perspective by elucidating mechanisms through which psychosocial forces and environments shape neurobiology. This article summarizes selected results from recent investigations of neuroplasticity and psychosocial genomics, which demonstrate complex interaction between genes, epigenetic processes, and environmental experience that confers neural growth into adulthood. Counseling psychologists working with children and adolescents need to be familiar with recent literature to be more effective in their work so that they can provide developmentally appropriate counseling services. Social cognitive theory and resilience theory are introduced to illustrate how counseling psychologists can incorporate neuroscience research findings in a counseling context and hypotheses are proposed for future counseling psychology research.

The Status of the “Biopsychosocial” Model in Health Psychology: Towards an Integrated Approach and a Critique of Cultural Conceptions

The current status of the “Biopsychosocial” Model in health psychology is contested and arguably exists in a stage of infancy. Despite original goals, medical researchers have developed theoretical and empirical integrations across bio-psycho-social domains only to a limited extent. This review article addresses this issue by making connections across research findings in health psychology and related medical fields in order to strengthen the associations across bio-psycho-social domains. In particular, research in sociosomatics, neuroplasticity and psychosocial genomics are introduced and explored. The role of “culture” as conceived of within the Biopsychosocial Model is also ambiguous and somewhat problematic. Arthur Klienman’s conceptions of culture as what is at stake for individuals in their local social and moral worlds is adopted to offer a critique of previous perspectives of culture and question its role amidst bio-psycho-social domains. Overall, a multilevel integrative or ‘holistic’ perspective is advanced to strengthen the Biopsychosocial Model for use within health psychology and biomedical research. In the end, some clinical implications are discussed.

Neuroplasticity, Psychosocial Genomics, and the Biopsychosocial Paradigm in the 21st Century

The biopsychosocial perspective is a foundation of social work theory and practice. Recent research on neuroplasticity and psychosocial genomics lends compelling support to this perspective by elucidating mechanisms through which psychosocial forces shape neurobiology. Investigations of neuroplasticity demonstrate that the adult brain can continue to form novel neural connections and grow new neurons in response to learning or training even into old age. These findings are complemented by the contributions of psychosocial genomics, a field of scientific inquiry that explores the modulating effects of experience on gene expression. Findings from these new sciences provide external validation for the biopsychosocial perspective and offer important insights into the manifold means by which socioenvironmental experiences influence neurobiological structure and function across the life course.

Neuroplasticity, Psychosocial Genomics, and the Biopsychosocial Paradigm in the 21st Century

Neuroplasticity, Psychosocial Genomics, and the Biopsychosocial Paradigm in the 21st Century

Prospects for Exploring the Molecular-Genomic Foundations of Therapeutic Hypnosis with DNA Microarrays

A new perspective on how therapeutic hypnosis and neuroscience may be integrated on the molecular-genomic level is offered as a guide for basic research and clinical applications. An update of Watson and Crick's original formulation of molecular biology is proposed to illustrate how psychosocial experiences modulate gene expression, protein synthesis, and brain plasticity during memory trace reactivation for the reorganization of neural networks that encode fear, stress, and traumatic symptoms. Examples of the scientific literature on DNA microarrays are used to explore how this new technology could integrate therapeutic hypnosis, neuroscience, and psychosocial genomics as a new foundation for mind-body medicine. Researchers and clinicians in therapeutic hypnosis need to partner with colleagues in neuroscience and molecular biology that utilize DNA microarray technology. It is recommended that hypnotic susceptibility scales of the future incorporate gene expression data to include the concept of “embodied imagination” and the “ideo-plastic faculty” on a molecular-genomic level as well as the psychological and behavioral level of ideomotor and ideosensory responses that are currently assessed.

Gene Expression, Neurogenesis, and Healing: Psychosocial Genomics of Therapeutic Hypnosis

The historical lineage of therapeutic hypnosis in James Braid's “psychophysiology”, Pierre Janet's “physiological modification”, and Milton Erickson's “neuro-psycho-physiology” is extended to include current neuroscience research on activity-dependent gene expression, neurogenesis, and stem cells in memory, learning, behavior change, and healing. Three conditions that optimize gene expression and neurogenesis—novelty, environmental enrichment, and exercise—could integrate fundamentals of the theory, research, and practice of therapeutic hypnosis. Continuing research on immediate-early, activity-dependent, behavior state-related, and clock gene expression could enhance our understanding of how relaxation, sleep, dreaming, consciousness, arousal, stress and trauma are modulated by therapeutic hypnosis. It is speculated that therapeutic and posthypnotic suggestion could be focused more precisely with the time parameters of gene expression and neurogenesis that range from minutes and hours for synthesizing new synapses to weeks and months for the generation and maturation of new, functioning neurons in the adult brain.

A Conceptual Review of the Psychosocial Genomics of Expectancy and Surprise: Neuroscience Perspectives about the Deep Psychobiology of Therapeutic Hypnosis

This conceptual review explores some speculative associations between the neuroscience of expectancy and surprise during stress and therapeutic hypnosis. Current neuroscience is exploring how novel interactions between the organism and the environment initiate cascades of gene expression, protein synthesis, neurogenesis, and healing that operate via Darwinian principles of natural variation and selection on all levels from the molecular-genomic to the subjective states of consciousness. From a neuroscience perspective, the novel and surprising experiences of consciousness appear to have as important a role as expectancy in memory, learning and behavior change in the psychobiology of therapeutic hypnosis. This paper explores how we may integrate the psychosocial genomics of expectancy and surprise in therapeutic hypnosis as a complex system of creative adaptation on all levels of human experience from mind to gene expression.