International journal of psychosomatics : official publication of the International Psychosomatics Institute最新文献

The details of an easily replicable intervention using hypnosis in the treatment of bulimia are presented. Follow-up data at one month, three months, six months, and one year indicated that the intervention appeared to be effective in two out of the three cases presented. Factors affecting treatment outcomes are discussed.

Some theoretical researchers have hypothesized links between music and altered states of consciousness. Music can influence the induction and maintenance of hypnosis. In addition, some altered states of consciousness may stimulate the musical creativity and musical production of mankind. In this research, the relationship between music and altered states of consciousness is studied from an experimental point of view. The experiments were conducted with 30 university students divided into two groups: the Hypnosis Group and the Control Group. The "Test di abilita musicale" was applied. The first group did the retest after post-hypnotic suggestions and the second in waking conditions. The statistical analysis proved that the Hypnosis Group had better results in the retest than the Control Group, especially in the rhythm test with F(1,28) = 25.60, p less than 0.0001.

The reliability of a surface EMG scanning procedure was investigated for the right and left aspects of ten muscle sites using a large clinical sample of 102 chronic patients. Two neutral postures (sitting/standing) were systematically studied on three occasions approximately one hour apart on the same day. The multivariate analysis of RMS microvolts indicated no significant effects for Age, Gender, Muscle Site, Aspect, or Period. The range of the Pearson correlations was 0.41 to 0.94 when all muscle sites, aspects, postures, and periods were considered. The median correlation was found to be 0.64. The pattern of reliability was seen to be slightly higher in the lower back while standing. The results indicate that with adequate attention to skin preparation, EMG sensors held in place by hand with a light pressure produced reliable results.

Various psychiatric symptoms have been described in patients with multiple sclerosis. The literature is reviewed, and it suggests that individual patients develop specific psychiatric syndromes. A case is presented with multiple psychiatric syndromes occurring within a single patient.

An ancient system of natural medicine--Maharishi Ayur-Vedic--prescribes certain herbal formulas to enhance cognitive functioning, prevent illness, and alleviate the detrimental effects of the aging process. A double-blind study was conducted to test the effect of an Ayurvedic herbal preparation, Maharishi Amrit Kalash (MAK), on an age-related alertness task. Forty-eight men over 35 years of age were randomly assigned to receive MAK tablets or a closely matched placebo twice daily for six weeks. A visual discrimination task consisted of the identification of the exact location of a stimulus "v" within an array of x symbols in tachistoscopic presentations. The MAK group improved significantly more in their performance of this task after three and six weeks of treatment relative to the placebo group. Performance was highly correlated with age, and because successful performance apparently requires an unrestricted flow of homogeneous attention as well as focalized concentration, it is concluded that MAK may enhance attentional capacity or alertness, and thus reverse some of the detrimental cognitive effects of aging.

Research has suggested specific features of alcohol-dependent women in comparison with men. The women usually display: (1) solitary drinking; (2) neurotic and family problems; (3) risk of early health impairment; and (4) abuse of other drugs. These factors should be taken into account in therapy. The in-patient program described is based on the principles of a therapeutic community and systems theory. It includes group and family therapy, education, relaxation training, yoga, a therapeutic club for former in-patients, and use of drugs such as disulfiran. Alcohol-dependence in women has become a growing problem. Adequate therapy is needed, but prevention is even more important.

Cross-cultural differences in physical and emotional responses to stressors are reported in this study. Among professionals (e.g., managers, supervisors), the incidence of stress-related disorders can have remarkable impact upon organizational performance as well as personal well-being. In order to study the relationship of nationality and gender to stress-related disorders, 148 American and 180 Brazilian professionals completed a questionnaire asking them to identify their unique responses to occupational stressors. Statistical analysis indicated that significant differences exist between the responses based upon both nationality and gender. Specifically, Americans reported a significantly higher incidence of allergies and irritable bowel syndrome, while Brazilians reported a higher incidence of Raynaud's syndrome (major manifestations are cold hands/feet). The males reported a higher incidence of high blood pressure and TMJ dysfunction/bruxism (a major manifestation is teeth grinding), while the females reported a higher incidence of tension headaches. The results are discussed in comparison to other cross-cultural and cross-gender studies with similar outcomes.

Research has shown that there is a much more intimate and complex relationship between the "mind" and "body" than heretofore acknowledged within the predominant Western scientific paradigm; and that a "sense of control" may be one of the more important variables mediating that relationship. Furthermore, even when this "mind-body" relationship is studied, it is often done so in a reductionist way--at a psychophysiological level within the individual, thereby ignoring the socio-cultural context within which it is embedded. To address these issues, this article examines the mind-body relationship within the socio-cultural/spiritual context of Bali. Specifically examined are: (1) the culture's underlying assumptions about the mind-body-spirit connection across developmental and life cycle issues (including physical illness, and death); (2) the importance of maintaining a sense of control, harmony, and balance, within oneself, one's community, and the cosmos; and (3) the implications of those views for a control-based model of positive health. The article concludes with: (1) a discussion of why control seems to be such an important "construct" in human evolution; (2) an examination of the costs and benefits of different methods of maintaining a sense of control and orientation; and (3) and a call for efforts toward a unifying theory of human control.

A 52-year-old woman presented to the office about 2 and 1/2 years after the death of her husband from cancer. She had multiple hemodynamic and cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, angina, tachycardia, dysmenorrhea, cardiac ectopics, and very cold hands and feet. The patient complained of tension and insomnia but refused to take any medications because of allergic responses to them. Hence, a relaxation and psychotherapeutic approach was adopted. Psychometric testing revealed extreme defensiveness (including repression). The patient had never mourned for her husband. Therapy helped her overcome her bereavement, tension, and insomnia. In addition, many of her physical manifestations subsided considerably during therapy.

A number of victims of post traumatic stress disorder, apart from the rest of their symptom constellation, suffer flashbacks. These flashbacks occur during the waking state and frequently are very disabling. From among this group of patients, we have identified a few who demonstrate epileptiform discharge emanating from temporal lobe foci. We have postulated that indeed the flashbacks might represent an amalgam of abnormal neuronal firing along with the expression of a dynamically charged event. Eight cases are documented which illustrate this pattern. In all eight cases, the flashbacks were completely controlled through the use of anticonvulsant medication (carbamazepine and one case of valproate). Other symptoms were treated more traditionally. A modification to a conventional psychotherapeutic approach is introduced which does not merely foster abreaction but also introduces a process of desensitization to the highly charged events. The sessions during which the patient relives the precipitant to the syndrome are audiotaped. Following the experience of working through in therapy, the patient is encouraged to replay the tape(s) repeatedly over several months to facilitate flooding/desensitization. The two case summaries which are presented illustrate the integration of pharmacotherapeutic intervention, a focal short-term dynamic approach, and a behavioral model.