Value Of Hypnosis Research Articles

The value of hypnosis in the resolution of dissociation: Clinical lessons from World War I on the integration of traumatic memories

Some World War I clinicians related the symptoms of traumatized servicemen to an underlying dissociation of their personality, consisting of two prototypical conditions: one involving functioning in daily life (inspired by Myers, whose work is also discussed in this article, and which will be labeled apparently normal part of the personality [ANP]) and one involving fixation in the traumatic experience and related attempts at defense (emotional part of the personality [EP]). These authors described two dissociative patterns. As illustrated in this article, one pattern consisted in the presentation of a dominant ANP suffering from constant or frequent intrusions from EP. The other pattern consisted in repeated complete alternations between ANP and EP. Instead of the use of purely symptom-oriented approaches, for the dissociative symptoms to be really resolved, an integration of traumatic memory in the personality, that is, between EP and ANP had to take place. These clinicians used hypnosis to access the traumatic memory and EP and to foster such integration; they agreed on the importance of the quality of the therapeutic relationship in this regard. However, they differed in opinion and practice as to the need to assists patients in their expression of traumatic emotions during this process. When the trauma was related merely to war experiences, such therapeutic processes took place within a simple phase-oriented treatment model, while in the presence of a history of previous trauma and related dissociation of the personality, this model had more complex applications. This is similar to modern treatment approaches of the sequelae—such as a complex dissociative disorder—of chronic (childhood) traumatization.

The Value of Hypnosis in the Resolution of Dissociation: Clinical Lessons from World War I on the Integration of Traumatic Memories

Some World War I clinicians related the symptoms of traumatized servicemen to an underlying dissociation of their personality, consisting of two prototypical conditions: one involving functioning in daily life (inspired by Myers, whose work is also discussed in this article, and which will be labeled apparently normal part of the personality [ANP]) and one involving fixation in the traumatic experience and related attempts at defense (emotional part of the personality [EP]). These authors described two dissociative patterns. As illustrated in this article, one pattern consisted in the presentation of a dominant ANP suffering from constant or frequent intrusions from EP. The other pattern consisted in repeated complete alternations between ANP and EP. Instead of the use of purely symptom-oriented approaches, for the dissociative symptoms to be really resolved, an integration of traumatic memory in the personality, that is, between EP and ANP had to take place. These clinicians used hypnosis to access the traumatic memory and EP and to foster such integration; they agreed on the importance of the quality of the therapeutic relationship in this regard. However, they differed in opinion and practice as to the need to assists patients in their expression of traumatic emotions during this process. When the trauma was related merely to war experiences, such therapeutic processes took place within a simple phase-oriented treatment model, while in the presence of a history of previous trauma and related dissociation of the personality, this model had more complex applications. This is similar to modern treatment approaches of the sequelae - such as a complex dissociative disorder - of chronic (childhood) traumatization.

An evaluation of hypnosis practices in palliative care.

There are very few studies in existence today that look at the value of hypnosis in palliative care.The aim of our study was to measure the impact of hypnosis on managing symptoms in palliative care. This quantitative retrospective monocentric observational study evaluated pain and patient satisfaction using monitoring and evaluation sheets, which included a rating scale before and after hypnosis sessions in a palliative care unit.For two years, thirty-seven patients participated in hypnosis sessions mostly for pain (41%) and anxiety (27%). 51% reported a decrease in symptoms, with 35% even reporting that the intensity of their symptoms vanished. Most of the patients were satisfied with the approach and at the end of the study some of them were able to recreate its effects by using self-hypnosis.Despite the small sample, the results confirm those found in the few palliative studies that do exist, particularly relating to the improvement of symptoms such as pain, anxiety, nausea, and respiratory disorders.

Hypnotic Illusions and Clinical Delusions: A Hypnotic Paradigm for Investigating Delusions of Misidentification

In 2 experiments, the authors created a hypnotic analogue of delusions of misidentification and explored their impact on autobiographical memory. In Experiment 1, to establish the paradigm, high and low hypnotizable participants were given a suggestion to become someone similar or dissimilar to themselves. In Experiment 2, to further test the paradigm and to examine autobiographical remembering, highs were given a suggestion to become a same-sex sibling, administered 2 challenges to the temporary delusion, and asked to generate autobiographical memories. For high hypnotizable participants, the suggested delusions of misidentification were compelling and resistant to challenge. During these temporary delusions, participants generated specific autobiographical memories that reflected previously experienced events viewed from the perspective of the suggested identity. These findings highlight the instrumental value of hypnosis to the investigation and understanding of delusions and autobiographical memory.

Hypnosis, Human Nature, and Complexity: Integrating Neuroscience Approaches into Hypnosis Research

Hypnosis research has contributed much to the understanding of human behavior and experience, both normal and abnormal. This paper considers ways in which neuroscience approaches may be integrated into hypnosis research to continue and enhance that contribution, as well as further reveal the nature of hypnosis itself. The authors review the influences on and advances in hypnosis research over the last century; illustrate the investigative value of hypnosis to selected phenomena across the areas of doing, feeling, believing, and remembering; and specify elements for the successful integration of neuroscience approaches into hypnosis research. The authors believe that hypnosis research offers powerful techniques to isolate psychological processes in ways that allow their neural bases to be mapped. Successful integration will be achieved when researchers add levels of explanation, rather than shift the emphasis from one level or feature to another.

Can hypnosis reduce postnatal depression?

The estimated incidence of postnatal depression (PND) is between 10–15% of postpartum women and its effect on family relationships can be far reaching. As a condition it is therefore worthy of attention, not only in regard to its treatment but also to its prevention. Of particular note is its precipitation by obstetric interventions in response to: (1) normal labour in order to shorten its length and so reduce maternal exhaustion; or (2) abnormal labour or malpresentations. This article discusses the potential role of hypnosis in ameliorating these conditions leading to the possible reduction of PND. Of particular value is the use of hypnosis as a general preparation for childbirth, provided it does not lead to unwarranted expectations about pain relief or of the ‘naturalness’ of the birth process. It is suggested that the value of hypnosis in reducing the incidence of PND needs to be evaluated by clinical trial, using the well-validated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as an outcome measure.

Fear of injections: the value of hypnosis in facilitating clinical treatment

AbstractThree examples of the use of hypnosis in counselling show the variable effects of experiences in the creation of fear, anxiety and disabling phobia. Therapy may be directed to an apparently single cause of a few weeks' duration, or to a many‐layered complex of over 40 years' existence. The processes of resolution may be jointly agreed by client and counsellor or else no clear path to improvement may be identified. The present paper describes three patients with different problems who had high levels of fear or anxiety about receiving injections in botulinum toxin clinics. Individual differences in causes, history and personality made an integrated approach the logical choice. Successful outcomes showed that hypnosis, adaptedly adjoined with mainly behavioural and cognitive methods of counselling, can be of very great assistance in enabling patients to receive injections essential to treatment, and can usefully be made part of multidisciplinary team provision. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis

The value of hypnosis in the treatment of chronic PTSD with dissociative fugues in a war veteran

AbstractThis report describes the successful treatment of a British war veteran who had chronic post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of 40 years' duration. He had also developed dissociative fugues during this time. He was finally admitted to a psychiatric hospital with severe depression and PTSD. After discharge he was treated by three‐phase oriented treatment as follows: Stage 1 – stabilization with psycho‐education and a cognitive–behavioural approach with hypnosis; Stage 2 – re‐processing of traumatic material by use of a safe‐remembering hypnotic method with cognitive reevaluation of traumatic events to resolve the negative feelings. Hypnotic dreams also facilitated re‐processing. During therapy, the veteran recovered the memory of one event which was crucial to his therapeutic progress. Stage 3 included further memory integration and rehabilitation. This was aided by dream elaboration, both with and without hypnosis. At the end of therapy, the veteran was virtually symptom‐free and was able to regain emotional and social contact with his family and friends. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis

Enhancing Imagery through Hypnosis: A Performance Aid for Athletes

This value of imagery in sports is widely acknowledged. The contribution of hypnosis to enhancing athletes' performance is also recognized, but the value of hypnosis in enhancing imagery has little recognition. The reason for this neglect is explored. The study used Martens' Sport Imagery Questionnaire, which asked the participants to image 4 different situations in their own sport—practicing alone, practicing in front of others, watching a teammate, and competing. Participants reported their subjective impression of vividness on four dimensions—visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and affective. The 14 athletes participating imaged each situation in and out of hypnosis—half of the time the imagery in hypnosis came first and half after. The participants reported that the imagery under hypnosis was more intense for each dimension and more intense for each situation. Whether the imagery was done under hypnosis first or after was not significant. The findings suggest that hypnosis substantially enhances imagery intensity and effectiveness.

Hypnotic pain control: Some theoretical and practical issues

Pain management programs assist patients to use their behavioral and cognitive skills for the purpose of rendering their experience of pain as more tolerable in some way. Hypnotic procedures may be included in this perspective. Thus, hypnosis may be best conceived as a set of skills to be deployed by the individual rather than as a state. The authors contend that such an emphasis is more compatible with the approaches of some pain management practitioners who have been generally slow to acknowledge the value of hypnosis and to incorporate hypnosis in their range of treatment skills. In this article, the authors present a minimal and atheoretical definition of hypnosis, and they list the basic properties of hypnosis that may be used in the treatment of pain. For a number of reasons, it is suggested that undertaking hypnosis as though the individual were indeed being placed into a special trance state may in some cases promote an effective outcome. However, it should be acknowledged that there may be instances when the relevant skills may be more effectively engaged at the expense of a strict special trance state by targeting the specific skills that are to be used for therapeutic benefit.

When pharmacologic anesthesia is precluded: the value of hypnosis as a sole anesthetic agent in dentistry.

Occasionally, a dental patient presents his/her dentist with a history of hypersensitivity to local anesthetic agents. The symptoms may include immediate reactions to the injection procedure (dizziness, shortness of breath, tachycardia, etc), or delayed reactions to the anesthetic (swelling, urticaria, etc). Although the true incidence of local anesthetic allergy is low, such a history often involves the patient's anxiety regarding the use of the drug in question, and the dentist's apprehension to treat the "problematic" patient. In such cases, hypnosis can play a major role in controlling pain and the associated distress. In the present article, the method concerning the implementation of hypnosis to induce local anesthesia is described and illustrated through case demonstrations.

Reports of forensic hypnosis: A critical analysis

Because public opinion is substantially influenced by the media, a content analysis was conducted of newspaper reports of the use of hypnosis in criminal investigation. Analysis focused on the quantitative and qualitative information in reports about particular cases in terms of the location of the crime, year of the crime, type of crime, status of the subject, status of the hypnotist, and the value of hypnosis; analysis also focused on the information in commentary reports in terms of the professional, investigative, legal, and scientific issues that were discussed. Overall, the newspaper reports conveyed a relatively enthusiastic endorsement of the use of hypnosis in criminal investigation, and did not sufficiently recognise the potential difficulties involved. The research is discussed in terms of the bidirectional influence of media reports and public opinion, and in terms of the role that the media could play in helping to address substantive issues surrounding forensic hypnosis.

Improving Exam Performance with the Clenched Fist Technique

In a previous article (Stanton 1985), I reported on the value of hyp nosis in assisting academics to overcome the problem of writing block. The three people used as illustrative cases in that article were all able to increase their writ ten output by learning how to use self induced trance states. Three other areas (Krippner 1971) that appear particularly amenable to the application of hypnosis are improve ment of study skills, reduction of test anxiety, and enhancement of academic motivation. However, attempts made at the col lege and university level to investigate the educational value of using hypnosis in these three areas (Fowler 1961, Kripp ner 1963, Mutke 1967, Swiercinsky and Coe 1970, Willis 1972) have produced somewhat inconclusive results.

Similarities and dissimilarities in hypnotic and nonhypnotic procedures for headache control: a review.

Abstract Similarities and differences between hypnosis and similar psychological procedures in the treatment of headache are reviewed. A brief outline of various hypnotic and nonhypnotic interventions for headache reduction shows that none of these procedures has consistently proved to produce superior results. Possible common denominators such as control of physiological processes, placebo factors, and the alteration of cognitive factors are discussed. The positive relationship between hypnotic susceptibility and hypnotic pain reduction indicates that the value of hypnosis seems to be less a matter of therapeutic procedure per se than of which context activates a patient's hypnotic potential for pain reduction.

The possible use of auto-hypnosis as a resistance during hypnotherapy

Abstract Both the value of hypnosis in the treatment of amnesia and other dissociative states, and problems with its use, such as memory distortion and reinforcement of dissociation, have been discussed in the literature. A case is presented demonstrating an additional potential problem - the possibility that self-hypnosis may be used by patients as a resistance against therapy and as a defense against guilt and anxiety. Therapeutic techniques to guard against this resistance are discussed.

Hypnosis as an adjunct to thought-stopping and covert reinforcement in the treatment of homicidal obsessions in a twelve-year-old boy

Abstract A combined cognitive behavioral approach was used to successfully treat matricidal obsessions in an otherwise psychologically well-adjusted 12-year-old boy. The primary problem was conceptualized as anxiety over loss of control. Therapeutic techniques included re-defining of symptoms, thought-stopping, hypnotic enhancement of imagery in order to facilitate cognitive restructuring, covert reinforcement, home practice, and paradoxical instructions to produce the symptom. A decline in obsessions began after 3 sessions and total remission was observed after 6 sessions (10 weeks). 2-year follow-up revealed no recurrence of symptoms. The value of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavior therapy with children is discussed.

An assessment of the value of hypnosis in pregnancy and labour: Davidson: p. 951

An assessment of the value of hypnosis in pregnancy and labour: Davidson: p. 951

What is the value of hypnosis in general practice?

What is the value of hypnosis in general practice?

An assessment of the value of hypnosis in pregnancy and labour.

An assessment of the value of hypnosis in pregnancy and labour.

The Value of Hypnosis in Childbirth

The Value of Hypnosis in Childbirth