American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis最新文献

This paper explores the use of hypnosis in tracing the etiology of Conversion Disorder (CD) in adolescents through hypnoanalysis, as well as outlining a structured workflow for hypnotherapy. A 16-year-old female high school student, who experienced sensations of earthquakes at any time and was unable to lie down to sleep, underwent multiple physical examinations across various hospitals without any identified cause. Conventional treatments with both Chinese and Western medicine were ineffective over a six-month period. Using hypnoanalysis techniques, the source of her condition was identified and treated through hypnosis, enabling the patient to develop a new state of self-suggestion and return to normal life. After six sessions of hypnotherapy, the hypnoanalysis process was completed, revealing the initial source of the patient's symptoms. The abnormal sensation of earthquakes disappeared, and her daily life and social functioning returned to normal. Follow-up over nearly 18months showed no recurrence. Hypnoanalysis plays a significant role in uncovering subconscious repression, trauma, and memory suppression leading to Conversion Disorder. Hypnotherapy may hold potential clinical value in the treatment of conversion disorders in adolescents.

This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (EH) in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among individuals with subclinical levels of distress. A total of 150 participants were screened, and 45 eligible participants were randomized into three groups: CBT (n = 15), EH (n = 15), and a waitlist control group (n = 15). Interventions consisted of 12 weekly sessions, with assessments conducted at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Both CBT and EH significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to the control group, with no significant differences in efficacy between the two interventions. CBT's structured approach demonstrated consistent improvements across both depression and anxiety, while EH showed a slightly faster reduction in anxiety symptoms at mid-intervention, highlighting its potential for addressing somatic and cognitive dimensions of anxiety. This study extends previous findings by focusing on a non-clinical population, emphasizing the potential of these interventions as early strategies for preventing symptom escalation. Unlike prior work primarily targeting diagnosed populations, this research underscores the applicability of CBT and EH in addressing subthreshold distress. Limitations include a small sample size, lack of follow-up assessments, and reliance on self-reported measures. Future research should explore long-term outcomes, larger samples, and the integration of CBT and EH. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting diverse psychotherapeutic modalities for early mental health intervention.

Current evidence-based therapies considered efficacious for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and medication treatments. Hypnosis, one of the first mind-body therapies known to Western medicine, has been used for mind-body problems such as conversion reactions, medication-less anesthesia, and wound healing. Because PTSD is a mind-body problem, hypnosis seems especially suited for its treatment. Hypnosis is a state-based treatment that can move PTSD patients into a state of calm, downregulate their emotional reactivity, and facilitate altering maladaptive beliefs. Combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches, hypnosis may magnify their effects. In this article, we present hypnotic techniques applicable to PTSD based on the PTSD symptom clusters they treat. We describe the goals, similarities, and differences between hypnosis and mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. We describe how adding hypnosis to PTSD treatment protocols such as PE and CPT boosts their impact. We encourage the use of hypnotic techniques which can enhance the therapeutic palette of the CBT practitioner treating PTSD.

The use of hypnosis as an alternative for controlling stress and anxiety in patients undergoing surgical treatment has been discussed in recent years. The aim of this study was to critically review Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) on the clinical efficacy of hypnosis in controlling anxiety related to third molar extraction. The PICO strategy was adopted: Population (Patients undergoing third molar extraction), Intervention (Hypnosis), Comparator (Other therapies to control anxiety) and Outcome (Reduced anxiety). The descriptors "Hypnosis," "Anxiety," "Dental treatment," "Third Molar" and "Oral Surgical Procedures" were used, combined or not, in the following databases: Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane and Embase. Of the 255 articles found, only 1 met the inclusion criteria. Therefore, the first 100 articles from the Gray Literature (Google Scholar) were consulted, from which 2 studies were included. Although the three articles evaluated were RCTs, they were all classified as level III evidence with a high risk of bias. In two studies, the group that received hypnosis had a lower anxiety index, a statistically significant result (p < .05), according to the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory. These data show that, despite the advantages of hypnosis in controlling anxiety in patients undergoing third molar extraction, the literature is still limited. There is therefore a need for more RCTs, using a rigorous methodology that can support reliable clinical results.

The article explores the nature of narrative, its impact on key neural circuits in the brain, and the role of those activated circuits as drivers of hypnotically guided personal change. The author views clinical hypnosis as a form of interactive reciprocity that engages clients' neuroplastic potential (i.e. trance). This emergent potential is evoked during the therapeutic interaction between a client and clinician. Furthermore, the author describes clinical hypnosis as using forms of suggestion to facilitate change to the self-reinforcing narratives to which clients subscribe. Suggestions themselves are viewed as activating non-consciously mediated aspects of the self, which are perceived by the conscious mind as non-volitionally facilitating the desired change. The author draws on research supporting the view of the self as a construct maintained by an internalized narrative that remains capable of revision, though not always easily or without external assistance. That self-narrative revision entails the change that hypnosis seeks to enable and enact. The article concludes that deliberate incorporation of forms of narrative, including the use of metaphors, for example, constitutes the essential fuel without which the engine of hypnotic change efforts can languish. This is because narrative processes occupy an indispensable role in energizing - neurologically, psychologically, and socially - the outcomes that hypnosis is intended to evoke. The article uses excerpts from different fictional narrative sources to illustrate the article's main thesis.

Anxiety, pain and poor well-being are major issues in elderly individuals. Complementary interventions, such as music and hypnosis, are increasingly used to address these issues. The objectives of this study were to assess immediate changes in anxiety, pain and well-being during personalized prerecorded music and hypnosis interventions compared to control sessions, and to explore participants' subjective experiences. We employed a multiple time series model with daily measurements with older people living in retirement homes in rural areas (n = 8). The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) evaluated these three dimensions before and after each session, while participants' subjective experience was collected using an unstructured interview. The primary results showed a significant improvement in the composite score of anxiety, pain, and well-being for the music (p < .001), hypnosis (p = .0158), and music/hypnosis (p = .013) intervention sessions compared to the control sessions. The secondary results indicated a reduction in anxiety for both the music and music/hypnosis interventions (p < .05), along with a significant improvement in well-being. These effects may be attributed to mechanisms such as absorption, episodic memory, cognitive agency, positive emotion, rhythmic entrainment, and rapport, which could have modulated the interventions' impact. In conclusion, personalized prerecorded music and hypnosis interventions appear to be effective in enhancing the well-being of older individuals residing in retirement homes. Further studies are needed to assess the generalizability of these results to a larger population from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds, and better understand the subjective experiences that mediate these effects.

In this case study, we describe the case of an adult patient who struggled with persistent warts on the plantar surface of the foot for several years. All medical therapies were exhausted, so the patient turned to medical hypnosis as a last resort. Despite years of unsuccessful conventional medical treatments, the patient experienced complete resolution of all his warts after three sessions of medical hypnosis. The suggestions used in the treatment included strengthening the immune system, increasing blood flow in the foot, visualizing immune mechanisms destroying infected cells, and the regrowth of healthy tissue. After 3 years, we are still in contact with the patient and he reports no recurrence of the disease. This case report adds to the existing body of the literature supporting the use of medical hypnosis in the treatment of warts. It demonstrates that medical hypnosis can be a valuable complementary or alternative treatment option for patients with persistent warts who have not responded to conventional therapies. It also highlights the need for further research to better understand the mechanisms by which hypnosis influences the resolution of warts and to identify the most effective types of suggestions for treatment.

Retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD) causes an inability to belch. This case report describes the successful treatment of R-CPD with the use of hypnosis. Thereafter, the patient was able to burp small amounts of air, and was encouraged to continue his use of hypnosis as needed. Hypnosis and possibly other noninvasive treatments should be used for R-CPD before employment of more invasive and costly treatments such as botulinum toxin administration.

Pediatric hypnosis practices are a valuable tool for enhancing emotional self-regulation and promoting resilience. Hypnotically informed materials, toys, and language are simple ways to encourage relaxation and stress management. By learning hypnosis skills such as becoming imaginatively absorbed in imagery, "belly breathing," and using simple toys to promote muscle relaxation, children can access natural and novel ways to navigate life's challenges. An example of these hypnotically informed materials and skills training exercises can be found in Comfort Kits (developed by Dr. Karen Olness circa 1996 and widely distributed by Drs. Culbert and Olness since 2004, used by thousands of children in hospitals and in community settings following natural disasters and wars. Extending this supportive tool and self-hypnosis training into schools presents an opportunity to introduce children to self-directed stress management skills in a practical and convenient manner. Training children to use hypnotically informed self-regulation skills begins to fill the gap between the need for mental health services and available resources. By incorporating hypnotically informed stress management training and self-hypnosis practices into schools, we can equip children with essential tools for improved mental well-being, particularly when they need psychological first aid. Using hypnotic practices and skills can help children manage difficult experiences and develop a sense of comfort and control. Next steps include looking at the feasibility and efficacy of positioning self-directed self-regulation practices (like those found in Comfort Kits and used by clinicians trained in therapeutic pediatric hypnosis) in schools, including through consultation with experts in curriculum development and assessment.