Tim Brunson DCH

Welcome to The International Hypnosis Research Institute Web site. Our intention is to support and promote the further worldwide integration of comprehensive evidence-based research and clinical hypnotherapy with mainstream mental health, medicine, and coaching. We do so by disseminating, supporting, and conducting research, providing professional level education, advocating increased level of practitioner competency, and supporting the viability and success of clinical practitioners. Although currently over 80% of our membership is comprised of mental health practitioners, we fully recognize the role, support, involvement, and needs of those in the medical and coaching fields. This site is not intended as a source of medical or psychological advice. Tim Brunson, PhD

Hypnotic emotional numbing: a study of implicit emotion

Posted At : November 17, 2006 6:52 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


Twenty high hypnotizable and 20 low hypnotizable participants were administered a hypnotic induction and then presented with emotionally distressing and neutral visual images. Half the participants were administered a suggestion for emotional numbing. Participants were then asked to rate the valence of neutral words that were preceded by subliminal presentations of the negative and neutral images.

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Hypnotic susceptibility, baseline attentional functioning, and the Stroop task

Posted At : November 17, 2006 6:02 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: General


According to the theoretical framework relating hypnosis to attention, baseline attentional functioning in highly hypnotizable individuals should be more efficient than in low hypnotizable individuals. However, previous studies did not find differences in Stroop-like tasks in which the measure indicative of the Stroop interference effect was based on response latencies.

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Therapy outcome after multidisciplinary treatment for chronic neck and chronic low back pain

Posted At : November 17, 2006 5:21 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


This prospective longitudinal clinical study analyses the therapy outcome of 365 patients with either chronic neck (n = 134) or low back (n = 231) pain treated with a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial therapy approach.Methods: Patients with chronic neck pain (NP) or low back pain (LBP) for 3 months or longer, corresponding sick leave for longer than 6 weeks, and clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent a 3-week standardized inpatient multidisciplinary biopsychosocial therapy.

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New Report Finds Pain Affects Millions Of Americans

Posted At : November 17, 2006 5:02 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


One in four U.S. adults say they suffered a day-long bout of pain in the past month, and one in 10 say the pain lasted a year or more, according to the government's annual, comprehensive report of Americans' health, Health United States, 2006, released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.

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A continuum of hypnotherapeutic interactions: from formal hypnosis to hypnotic conversation

Posted At : November 17, 2006 1:45 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: General


Hypnotherapeutic interactions can be mapped on a continuum from formal hypnosis to hypnotic conversation. Unlike the structured forms of formal hypnosis, hypnotic conversation relies upon utilizing the client's responses, both verbal and non-verbal, to facilitate therapeutic process. In this paper, we illustrate this continuum with a series of anecdotal clinical examples starting with formal hypnosis and moving incrementally towards hypnotic conversation.

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Film about fibromyalgia

Posted At : November 16, 2006 5:17 PM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


Novice filmmakers Daneen Akers and Stephen Eyer have completed a documentary that explores the daily challenges of living with fibromyalgia, a type of chronic pain illness. "Living with Fibromyalgia is the first documentary to explore the most intimate feelings and life-altering experiences of seven individuals living with the daily challenges of fibromyalgia.

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3D computer map pinpoints pains

Posted At : November 16, 2006 5:07 PM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


People in pain could soon use a 3D computer program to explain how severe their symptoms are. It has been developed by a team at Brunel University to help wheelchair users log, from home, how they are feeling during the course of a day.

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Researchers Find Evidence for Traumatic Cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Posted At : November 16, 2006 5:06 PM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


Newswise -- New Mayo Clinic research suggests that a shearing injury of the tissue that lines the tendons within the carpal tunnel may cause carpal tunnel syndrome, a debilitating condition of the wrist and hand. If validated by further research, Mayo's study comparing electron microscope images of carpal tunnel syndrome tissue with those from normal tissue could lead to earlier diagnosis and possibly better treatments for preventing or reversing carpal tunnel syndrome.

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The concept of dissociation

Posted At : November 16, 2006 2:15 PM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: General


The concept of dissociation has been reviewed and redefined. It was also compared with other mental mechanisms. In the past, the process of dissociation and the content of the dissociation have often been lumped together although they are separate frames of reference. Moreover, very different psychic elements may be dissociated including memories, affects, and psychic structure.

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The cognitive interview: does it successfully avoid the dangers of forensic hypnosis?

Posted At : November 16, 2006 5:42 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Forensics


Seventy-two undergraduates viewed a videotape of a bank robbery that culminated in the shooting of a young boy. Several days later, participants were interviewed about their recollection of events in the film through baseline oral and written narrative accounts followed by random assignment to a hypnosis (HYP) condition, the cognitive interview (CI), or a motivated, repeated recall (MRR) control interview.

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Infants Born to Women Who Were Affected by 9-11 Have Low Cortisol Levels.

Posted At : November 16, 2006 2:59 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Mental Disorders


A recent Mt. Sinai Hospital study by posttraumatic stress researcher, Rachel Yehuda, found that infants born to pregnant women who were directly affected by the World Trade Center attacks, showed biological markers - low cortisol levels - indicating effects of PTSD.

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Women Treated for Breast Cancer Follow Coventional Treatment with CAM

Posted At : November 16, 2006 2:29 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Cancer


More and more women are now successfully being treated for breast cancer, and wind up searching for ways to hedge their bets on staying strong and well after treatment is completed. A recent survey out of Western Oregon University asked 551 ex-breast cancer patients about their use of 15 different complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies after completion of allopathic therapy for breast cancer. These were women in the Portland OR area who were diagnosed an average of 3.5 years earlier.

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When do Yoga, Psychotherapy and Autogenic Training Help?

Posted At : November 15, 2006 2:43 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Research


Another summary article from Germany by J.M. Hermann reports on the effectiveness of relaxation techniques, behavioral therapy and biofeedback for hypertension and stress, stating that these techniques lower elevated blood pressure by an average of 10 mmHg (systolic) and 5 mmHg (diastolic). Further, as a "secondary effect", these measures frequently prompt the hypertensive patient to adopt a more health-conscious lifestyle.

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Biofeedback and Migranes

Posted At : November 15, 2006 2:07 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


Researchers at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences in Uttaranchal, India find in a randomized, controlled trial that biofeedback-assisted diaphramgmatic breathing plus systematic relaxation yields greater longterm benefits for migraine sufferers than propanalol.

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Facilitating memory with hypnosis, focused meditation, and eye closure

Posted At : November 15, 2006 1:42 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Learning and Memory


Three experiments examined some features of hypnotic induction that might be useful in the development of brief memory-facilitation procedures. The first involved a hypnosis procedure designed to facilitate face identification; the second employed a brief, focused-meditation (FM) procedure, with and without eye closure, designed to facilitate memory for an emotional event. The third experiment was a check for simple motivation and expectancy effects.

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A study of visualization and addiction treatment

Posted At : November 14, 2006 1:44 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Substance Abuse


When psycho-educational groups were compared to groups that taught progressive relaxation and visualization in an outpatient chemical dependency treatment program, both interventions showed similar improvement on the 76 subjects in the study. Both groups met for 6 one-hour sessions over the space of 3 weeks.

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Guided Imagery & Progressive Relaxation Reduced Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting

Posted At : November 13, 2006 2:31 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Cancer


Researchers at the Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea studied the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation training (PMRT) and guided imagery (GI) in reducing the anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) and postchemotherapy nausea and vomiting (PNV) and in increasing quality of life for patients with breast cancer.

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Stress Reduction and Organ Transplate Recipients

Posted At : November 13, 2006 2:10 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Surgery


Researchers from the University of Minnesota find that an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training program, combined with Hatha Yoga practice, improved sleep and mental health for solid organ transplant recipients, after 6 months.

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Hypnosis and Physical Therapy

Posted At : November 12, 2006 2:09 PM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: General


Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston found that physical therapy is most effective for treating migraine when combined with treatments such as thermal biofeedback, relaxation training and exercise. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston conducted a medical literature review of physical therapy treatments for the management of primary headache disorders.

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Biofeedback and TMJ

Posted At : November 12, 2006 2:09 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


A review and meta-analysis of 14 studies of biofeedback for TMJ by researchers at Williams College show that surface electromyographic (SEMG) training of the chewing muscles is indeed efficacious in reducing this condition.

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The effects of hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative suggestion on pain

Posted At : November 11, 2006 8:32 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared placebo and suggested pain reduction. PURPOSE: Hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative analgesia suggestions were compared against a placebo in reducing experimental pain. The mediator role of response expectancies and the moderator role of hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative suggestibility were evaluated. METHODS: Sixty participants previously assessed for hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative suggestibility were assigned to one of two experimental conditions or a no-treatment control condition. In the "placebo first" condition, participants received placebo, followed by imaginative and then hypnotic analgesia suggestions.

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Hyponisis and Surgical Outcomes

Posted At : November 11, 2006 2:04 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Surgery


Well, the data is finally in from the long-awaited MANTRA prayer study at Duke University's Clinical Research Institute. Cardiologist and principal investigator Mitch Krucoff reported disappointing results from his randomized, controlled, multi-centered pilot study that compared intercessory prayer with a combination of music, imagery and touch (MIT) therapies, and standard care. The earlier study that inspired this one had suggested that prayer created more positive outcomes in heart surgery patients; and certainly Henry Bennett's study with imagery and Elvira Lang's with hypnosis showed significant results on surgical outcomes.

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Neurofeedback and ADHD

Posted At : November 11, 2006 2:01 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Mental Disorders


Another new study, this one using neuro-imaging out of the University of Montreal, shows that neurofeedback is very likely highly effective in helping children with attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) disorder.

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Therapeutic Touch Found to Decrease Pain in Elders

Posted At : November 11, 2006 1:52 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


Researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing in Eau Claire investigated whether Therapeutic Touch (TT) decreased pain in elders with degenerative arthritis, as compared with routine treatment and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR).

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Comparing "Canned" Imagery and Individualized Imagery Among Cancer Patients

Posted At : November 10, 2006 2:30 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Research


A study of chemotherapy patients at The UCSF Mt. Zion Infusion Center by Phaedra Caruso, PhD and Trudy Helge, PhD (at the time doctoral candidates in psychology), compared two kinds of guided imagery - self-generated, unique, fill-in-the-blank type imagery vs. "canned" imagery - standardized, physiologically-based, scripted imagery - along with a third condition: a progressive relaxation tape. All three interventions were recorded by the same person - imagery expert Martin Rossman MD - and offered as part of a four-session course.

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Guided Imagery and Breast Cancer

Posted At : November 10, 2006 2:19 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Cancer


Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University study the effect of guided imagery on immune function in patients being treated for Stage I or II breast cancer.

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Effects of Integrating Therapeutic Touch into a Cognitive Behavioral Pain Treatment Program

Posted At : November 9, 2006 8:00 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Mental Disorders


A group of researchers from the University of Southern Maine took a look the effects of offering Therapeutic Touch (TT) as an adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for people with chronic pain. Patients were randomized to a relaxation training condition alone or relaxation training plus Therapeutic Touch. All participants attended a relaxation training classes. Preprogram and postprogram data were examined to identify patterns of change in pain intensity, self-efficacy, disability, and perceived distress.

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Hypnotherapy and Irritable Bowel

Posted At : November 9, 2006 3:20 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Digestive Disorders


Researchers from University Hospital of South Manchester in the UK review the latest research on the efficacy of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome, and conclude that the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy are long lasting, with most patients maintaining their improved status and decreasing their need for office visits and medication in the long term.

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Self Regulation and Breast Cancer

Posted At : November 9, 2006 2:18 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Cancer


Researchers from the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan evaluate a post-treatment self-regulation program of self-management for 25 breast cancer patients and find it highly effective.

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Openning Remarks October 2006 IMDHA Conference

Posted At : November 8, 2006 8:48 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: News


The following remarks were made on October 28, 2006, at the Annual IMDHA Conference held in Troy, Michigan.

2006 Dr. Anne Spencer's IMDHA Opening Address

Achieving Quantum Awareness

Greeting dear colleagues ~

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association Platinum Anniversary conference Hypnosis and Holistic Living – this year titled appropriately Achieving Quantum Awareness ~ The Journey Continues.

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Introversion-Extraversion, Tempo, and Guided Imagery

Posted At : November 8, 2006 8:46 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Mental Disorders


Strelow and Davidson tested the hypotheses that (a) introverts would produce more vivid imagery than would extraverts, and that (b) introverts would produce better imagery if the background auditory tempo were slow, and extraverts would produce better mental imagery of the background auditory tempo were fast. Participants (N=240) were classified as introverts or extraverts and were randomly assigned one of three tempo conditions: slow, fast, or none.

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Increasing Diabetic Self-Care Through Guided Imagery

Posted At : November 8, 2006 8:35 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: General


People have suspected for years that guided imagery is an ideal intervention for people with diabetes. Because it lowers stress and people with Type II Diabetes (also known as Adult Onset Diabetes) are famously responsive to stress, it seems pretty obvious. But not a whole lot of hard-core study has been done on the subject.

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Charcot, Freud and the unconscious

Posted At : November 8, 2006 8:00 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: History


During the ten last years (1882-1892) of Charcot's (1825-1893), life he attempted to explain hysteria symptomas. He discussed clinical examples (hypnosis and hypnotherapy, "hystero-traumatism", "psychological theory of hysteria", "faith healing"). The psychological dimension went back into the Parisian Hospital Medicine. This occurred on the late XIXth century, just one century after Mesmer, when Freud was Charcot's intern, at La Salpetriere hospital, during years 1885-1886. The return of a non-rational thought into hospital medicine upset the organicist concepts of the Parisian "Ecole anatomo-clinique".

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Awake-alert hypnosis in the treatment of panic disorder: a case report

Posted At : November 8, 2006 6:04 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Mental Disorders


An individual developed a lifestyle-limiting case of Panic Disorder that threatened to interfere with her raison d'etre: To participate in the exclusive lifestyle of her community. The panic episodes started to cripple her social calendar and as the "season" came into full swing her coveted role of chairwoman of various philanthropic functions came into peril.

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Imagery Works as Well as Actual Practice

Posted At : November 8, 2006 5:30 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: General


Researchers from the Department of OBGYN at Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center tested the effects of varying the amount of physical practice vs. mental imagery rehearsal for training medical students to perform basic surgical procedures.

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Hynosis and Acne

Posted At : November 7, 2006 4:15 PM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Dermatology


Hypnotic suggestion successfully alleviated the behavioral picking aspect of acne excoriee des juenes filles in a pregnant woman who had been picking at the acne lesions on her face for 15 years. Acne excoriee is a subset of psychogenic or neurotic excoriation.

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Researchers Discover On/Off Switch for Chronic Pain

Posted At : November 7, 2006 10:51 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center have discovered a protein in nerve cells that acts as a switch for chronic pain, and have applied for a patent to develop a new class of drugs that will block chronic pain by turning this switch off....Most prior attempts at alleviating chronic pain have focused on the "second order" neurons in the spinal cord that relay pain messages to the brain.

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DEA Revises Rule on Prescribing Painkillers

Posted At : November 7, 2006 10:50 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Pain Management


The Drug Enforcement Administration overturned a two-year-old policy that many pain specialists said was limiting their ability to properly treat chronically ill patients in need of powerful, morphine-based painkillers.

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Robert and Linda Otto to Acquire IMDHA

Posted At : November 7, 2006 9:07 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: News


Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is a pleasure to announce our impending acquisition of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association. This is truly an exciting announcement. And the next few months promise to be full of challenges and growth.

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Gassner's exorcism--not Mesmer's magnetism--is the real predecessor of modern hypnosis

Posted At : November 7, 2006 6:59 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: History


Usually, Mesmer is considered to be the real predecessor of modern hypnosis and, consequently, of psychotherapy. The author questions this commonly accepted view and asserts that Gassner's therapeutic approach was much more elaborate and psychologically oriented than Mesmer's.

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