This controlled pilot study tested the effects of a mindfulness intervention on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and tested the psychological processes possibly mediating such effects. Participants with OCD symptoms (12 women, 5 men) received either mindfulness training (N=8) or formed a waiting-list control group (N = 9). Meditation included 8 group meetings teaching meditative breathing, body-scan, and mindful daily living, applied to OCD. The intervention had a significant and large effect on mindfulness, OCD symptoms, letting go, and thought-action fusion. Controlling for changes in "letting go," group effects on change in OCD symptoms disappeared, pointing at a mediating role for letting go. This may be the first controlled study demonstrating that a mindfulness intervention reduces OCD symptoms, possibly explained by increasing letting go capacity. If replicated in larger and clinical samples, mindfulness training may be an alternative therapy for OCD.

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2008 Oct;196(10):776-9. Hanstede M, Gidron Y, Nyklícek I. Centre of Research on Psychology in Somatic Disease (CoRPS), Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.

This paper presents a highly edited version of a videotape made in 1980 by Marion Moore, M.D., showing Milton H. Erickson and Moore demonstrating novel, activity-dependent approaches to hand-levitation and therapeutic hypnosis on their subject, Ernest Rossi. Erickson's naturalistic and utilization approach is described in his very direct and surprising induction in a trance challenged patient. These novel, and surprising inductions are examples of how Erickson was prescient in developing activity-dependent approaches to therapeutic hypnosis and psychotherapy several generations before modern neuroscience documented the activity-dependent molecular-genomic mechanisms of memory, learning, and behavior change. Erickson describes a case where he utilized what he called, "The General Waking Trance" when he "dared" not use an obvious hypnotic induction. It is proposed that the states of intense mental absorption and response attentiveness that are facilitated by the general waking trance are functionally related to the three conditions neuroscientists have identified as novelty, enrichment, and exercise (both mental and physical), which can turn on activity-dependent gene expression and activity-dependent brain plasticity, that are the molecular-genomic and neural basis ofmemory, learning, consciousness, and behavior change. We recommend that the next step in investigating the efficacy of therapeutic hypnosis will be in partnering with neuroscientists to explore the possibilities and limitations of utilizing the activity-dependent approaches to hypnotic induction and the general waking trance in facilitating activity-dependent gene expression and brain plasticity.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):185-200. Rossi E, Erickson-Klein R, Rossi K. Ernest@ErnestRossi.com

The hypnosis community may be buying into a neuroscience fad concerning brain laterality. Accustomed to deflating folkloric claims about hypnosis, researchers and practitioners of hypnosis have come to appreciate the danger of lingering myths and the importance of dispelling legends. Tales are ubiquitous, however, and claims relating to the left or right hemispheres require both context and substantive data. Here we sketch the gist of brain laterality findings and their relevance to the hypnosis community.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):201-8. Raz A, Schwartzman D, Guindi D. McGill University, Clinical Neuroscience and Applied Cognition Laboratory, Inst. of Community & Family Psychiatry, SMBD Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Cote Ste Catherine Rd., Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E4, Canada. amir.raz@mcgill.ca

Dr Overland serves as adjunct professor at two leading institutions of higher learning. He is currently the Vice President of the Council of Delegates for the American Chiropractic Association. During his career, he was also appointed by the Governor to serve on the Connecticut Board of Chiropractic Examiners and he was elected as President of the Connecticut Chiropractic Association. In addition, he was a consultant for the New York Mets baseball team, the United States Tennis Association, the Connecticut Dept of Public Health and the Norwalk Community College Athletic department. He has treated over 100 US and International Olympic and professional athletes plus the 2002 US Olympic Speed Skating Team. He worked as an official Doctor at the 2005 World Games held in Germany and is currently the Medical Editor for the North East Tennis Magazine.

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by Jack Elias

Some tips and insights to overcome fearful thoughts and emotional states that cause you to contract from others and from your own sense of resourcefulness and joy:

1) Leap! Liberation and empowerment always come dressed in paradox. If you find yourself contracting and holding back and holding on, don't spend time stewing. Just give! Give your money, give your time, give your attention to others (especially outside your family). Disregard the fearful objecting thoughts of lack and limitation and just do it.

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A previous study (carried out in 2003-2004) had included 34 patients with traumatic brain injury in order to study the feasibility and usefulness of music therapy in patients with this type of injury.

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Ayurveda is an ancient system of personalized medicine documented and practiced in India since 1500 B.C. According to this system an individual's basic constitution to a large extent determines predisposition and prognosis to diseases as well as therapy and life-style regime. Ayurveda describes seven broad constitution types (Prakritis) each with a varying degree of predisposition to different diseases. Amongst these, three most contrasting types, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, are the most vulnerable to diseases. In the realm of modern predictive medicine, efforts are being directed towards capturing disease phenotypes with greater precision for successful identification of markers for prospective disease conditions. In this study, we explore whether the different constitution types as described in Ayurveda has molecular correlates.

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Hypnosis is a therapeutic technique that primarily involves attentive receptive concentration. Even though a small number of health professionals are trained in hypnosis and lingering myths and misconceptions associated with this method have hampered its widespread use to treat medical conditions, hypnotherapy has gained relevance as an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome not responsive to standard care. More recently, a few studies have addressed the potential influence of hypnosis on upper digestive function and disease. This paper reviews the efficacy of hypnosis in the modulation of upper digestive motor and secretory function. The present evidence of the effectiveness of hypnotherapy as a treatment for functional and organic diseases of the upper bowel is also summarized, coupled with a discussion of potential mechanisms of its therapeutic action.

World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Nov 7;14(41):6276-84. Chiarioni G, Palsson OS, Whitehead WE. Divisione di Riabilitazione Gastroenterologica dell'Universita di Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Ospedale di Valeggio sul Mincio, 37067 Valeggio sul Mincio (VR), Italy. chiarioni@tin.it.

by Tim Brunson DCH

The number one mistake that trainers and speakers make is their failure to tailor their message and teaching style to fit their audience. While they may find that the majority of the audience appreciate how they communicate their message, most will also find that a few individuals adversely react to their presentation. This problem most likely is the result of an inability for the speaker to judge the average balance between being predictable and clear versus providing excitement and effectively using ambiguity as a learning tool.

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Full Title: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders in clinical practice: a meta-analysis of effectiveness studies

The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety in adults is well established. In the present study, the authors examined whether CBT tested under well-controlled conditions generalizes to less-controlled, real-world circumstances. Fifty-six effectiveness studies of CBT for adult anxiety disorders were located and synthesized. Meta-analytic effect sizes are presented for disorder-specific symptom measures as well as symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression for each disorder, and benchmarked to results from randomized controlled trials. All pretest-posttest effect sizes for disorder-specific symptom measures were large, suggesting that CBT for adult anxiety disorders is effective in clinically representative conditions. Six studies included a control group, and between-groups comparisons yielded large effect sizes for disorder-specific symptoms in favor of CBT. Benchmarking indicated that results from effectiveness studies were in the range of those obtained in selected efficacy trials. To test whether studies that are more representative of clinical settings have smaller effect sizes, the authors coded studies for 9 criteria for clinical representativeness. Results indicate an inverse relationship between clinical representativeness and outcome, but the magnitude of the relationship is quite small.

J Consult Clin Psychol. 2009 Aug;77(4):595-606. Stewart RE, Chambless DL. Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Solomon Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. restewar@psych.upenn.edu

Dr. Bee Epstein-Shepherd has been pioneering hypnotic techniques to improve performance and enhance life since embarking on her second career as a hypnotherapist in 1992.

After earning a Master's Degree in Psychology, in 1976, Dr. Bee taught Business Psychology at Monterey Peninsula College while working on her Ph.D. in Psychology, earning that degree in 1982. For the next ten years she taught management courses through a number of colleges and universities while maintaining an active consulting practice. In the late 70's and early 80's she developed some of the first college courses for Women in Management.

As a management consultant, and corporate trainer Dr. Bee developed training programs and seminars in Time Management, Communication, Management and Supervision, Stress Management and Life Balance. Her clients included such diverse organizations as Hewlett Packard, Intel, Apple, Xerox, Macy's, CareerTrack, Procter and Gamble, University of California Medical Center, University of California, Santa Cruz, the IRS, the U.S. Army, Navy, and the Alaska Court System. Between 1981 and 1996 she trained more than 250,000 people in 450 cities internationally.

For more information visit: DrBee.com.

Meditation practices may impact physiological pathways that are modulated by stress and relevant to disease. While much attention has been paid to meditation practices that emphasize calming the mind, improving focused attention, or developing mindfulness, less is known about meditation practices that foster compassion.

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Ayurveda is an ancient system of personalized medicine documented and practiced in India since 1500 B.C. According to this system an individual's basic constitution to a large extent determines predisposition and prognosis to diseases as well as therapy and life-style regime. Ayurveda describes seven broad constitution types (Prakritis) each with a varying degree of predisposition to different diseases. Amongst these, three most contrasting types, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, are the most vulnerable to diseases. In the realm of modern predictive medicine, efforts are being directed towards capturing disease phenotypes with greater precision for successful identification of markers for prospective disease conditions. In this study, we explore whether the different constitution types as described in Ayurveda has molecular correlates.

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Despite the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the general population for the treatment of chronic diseases, only few data have been published for patients with leukemia. The aim of this survey was to study systematically the use of CAM in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

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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.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Jan;57(1):1-32. Cox RE, Barnier AJ. Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia. rcox@maccs.mq.edu.au

A prospective cohort study on chiropractic patients with neck pain. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between self-reported benign adverse events after chiropractic care for neck pain and the outcome measures namely, perceived recovery, neck pain, and neck disability.

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Positive and negative affect generated while using the Phenomenology of Consciousness--Hypnotic Assessment Procedure (PCI-HAP) on a sample of drug and alcohol users were predicted using several variables. The results were then cross-validated on a second, smaller sample. The results suggest that, although some negative affect was reported, the PCI-HAP was more likely to generate positive, rather than negative, affect. Positive affect was related to the vividness of a suggested hypnotic dream during hypnosis and also hypnotic depth; these findings were replicated upon cross-validation. Although negative affect correlated with the Dissociative Experiences Scale scores and falling asleep, these results did not replicate upon cross-validation. Mild transient negative effects (e.g., headache) were reported by about 10% of the participants in a smaller, second sample. Implications of the results are discussed.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Jan;57(1):64-93. Pekala RJ, Kumar VK, Maurer RL Sr, Elliott-Carter N, Moon E, Mullen K. Coatesville Veterans Administration Medical Center, Coatesville, Pennsylvania 19380-2765, USA. Ronald.Pekala@med.va.gov

A book review by Tim Brunson, DCH

During this period of economic crises and turbulence - while many Americans and others throughout the world are focusing on survival - Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success, is a welcome respite. In this refreshing volume he presents numerous anecdotes which weave an enlightening, paradigm-breaking view of why some people are successful and others are not.

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by Tim Brunson DCH

What is it like to be really good at something? Some people call the best athletes, scientists, scholars, authors, and craftsmen masters. So, let me rephrase my original question. What does it take to be a master or to achieve mastery in a skill or profession?

You may think that you have to be the smartest. This is not true. Quite to the contrary. Some of the world's most prestigious masters have an IQ of less then 50. Some even have an IQ less than 25. By the way, some one with an IQ less than 50 is clinically termed an imbecile or idiot, two terms that are not necessarily politically correct.

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Adrian Bird has held the Buchanan Chair of Genetics at the University of Edinburgh since 1990, and is Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology at the University. His research interests are the structure and function of the mammalian genome and in particular the role of DNA methylation.

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Cancer-related cognitive impairment has been acknowledged as a substantial limiting factor in quality of life among cancer patients and survivors. In addition to deficits on behavioral measures, abnormalities in neurologic structure and function have been reported. In this paper, we review findings from the literature on cognitive impairment and cancer, potential interventions, meditation and cognitive function, and meditation and cancer.

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The study investigated hypnosis-related electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence and power spectra changes in high and low hypnotizables (Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale) induced by a virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) induction system. In this study, the EEG from 17 participants (Mean age = 21.35, SD = 1.58) were compared based on their hypnotizability score. The EEG recording associated with a 2-minute, eyes-closed baseline state was compared to the EEG during a hypnosis-related state. This novel induction system was able to produce EEG findings consistent with previous hypnosis literature. Interactions of significance were found with EEG beta coherence. The high susceptibility group (n = 7) showed decreased coherence, while the low susceptibility group (n = 10) demonstrated an increase in coherence between medial frontal and lateral left prefrontal sites. Methodological and efficacy issues are discussed.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Jan;57(1):94-116. White D, Ciorciari J, Carbis C, Liley D. Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia.

Chris Attwood is an expert in the field of personal development. For over 30 years he has studied and explored the field of human consciousness.

After rising to become President of Newcomb Government Securities, a secondary dealer in U.S.government securities, Chris retired for ten years to a program of deep meditation. During that time he did extensive research in the field of human consciousness and studied the Vedic literature of Indiaextensively. Today he brings this deep spiritual basis to his workshops and seminars, showing participants how their inner life creates the results they see in their outer life.

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An emerging body of evidence has shown the therapeutic effect of both mindful and non-mindful physical exercises on the treatment of depression. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of mindful and non-mindful physical exercises as an intervention in managing depression or depressive symptoms based on a systematic literature review.

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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques are commonly used in hospitals and private medical facilities; however, the effectiveness of many of these practices has not been thoroughly studied in a scientific manner. Developed by Dr. Dolores Krieger and Dora Kunz, Therapeutic Touch is one of these CAM practices and is a highly disciplined five-step process by which a practitioner can generate energy through their hands to promote healing. There are numerous clinical studies on the effects of TT but few in vitro studies. Our purpose was to determine if Therapeutic Touch had any effect on osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization in vitro. TT was performed twice a week for 10 min each on human osteoblasts (HOBs) and on an osteosarcoma-derived cell line, SaOs-2. No significant differences were found in DNA synthesis, assayed by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation at 1 or 2 weeks for SaOs-2 or 1 week for HOBs. However, after four TT treatments in 2 weeks, TT significantly (p = 0.03) increased HOB DNA synthesis compared to controls.

Immunocytochemistry for Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) confirmed these data. At 2 weeks in differentiation medium, TT significantly increased mineralization in HOBs (p = 0.016) and decreased mineralization in SaOs-2 (p = 0.0007), compared to controls. Additionally, Northern blot analysis indicated a TT-induced increase in mRNA expression for Type I collagen, bone sialoprotein, and alkaline phosphatase in HOBs and a decrease of these bone markers in SaOs-2 cells. In conclusion, Therapeutic Touch appears to increase human osteoblast DNA synthesis, differentiation and mineralization, and decrease differentiation and mineralization in a human osteosarcoma-derived cell line. (c) 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

J Orthop Res. 2008 Nov;26(11):1541-6. Jhaveri A, Walsh SJ, Wang Y, McCarthy M, Gronowicz G. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030-3105, USA.

Freud's early paper Psychical (or mental) treatment, first published in a family reference book for educated lay persons, was reproduced in the Gesammelte Werke with a stated publication date of 1905. This date was subsequently called into question owing to certain parts of the subject-matter (the use of hypnosis and suggestion in 'mental treatment'), and the contribution was erroneously assigned, for instance by James Strachey, to the year 1890. This error is corrected in the present paper. Furthermore, the existence of a second edition of this reference book, which contains an addition to Freud's text and appeared in 1918-19, has previously gone unnoticed. The first edition had been published in 1905-6. Freud's contribution must, however, have been written at an appreciably earlier date. The probable time of its genesis is discussed. Freud's new text is reproduced (in English translation) for the first time in an appendix to this paper.

Int J Psychoanal. 2008 Aug;89(4):827-43. Fichtner G. Institut für Ethik und Geschichte der Medizin, Goethestr. 6, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. gerhard.fichtner@uni-tuebingen.de

Therapist competence has consistently been associated with therapy outcomes, although the nature of this relationship varies considerably across studies.

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This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of providing massage to children with cancer to reduce symptoms in children and anxiety in parents. Twenty-three children/parent dyads were enrolled; 17 completed all data points. Children with cancer, ages 1 to 18 years, received at least 2 identical cycles of chemotherapy, and one parent, participated in the 2-period crossover design in which 4 weekly massage sessions alternated with 4 weekly quiet-time control sessions. Changes in relaxation (heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol level) and symptoms (pain, nausea, anxiety, and fatigue) were assessed in children; anxiety and fatigue were measured in parents. Massage was more effective than quiet time at reducing heart rate in children, anxiety in children less than age 14 years, and parent anxiety. There were no significant changes in blood pressure, cortisol, pain, nausea, or fatigue. Children reported that massage helped them feel better, lessened their anxiety and worries, and had longer lasting effects than quiet time. Massage in children with cancer is feasible and appears to decrease anxiety in parents and younger children.

J Pediatr Oncol Nurs. 2009 Jan-Feb;26(1):16-28. Post-White J, Fitzgerald M, Savik K, Hooke MC, Hannahan AB, Sencer SF. University of Minnesota. postw001@umn.edu.

The study of arousal and attention could be of prominent importance for elucidating both fundamental and practical aspects of the mind-brain puzzle. Defined as "general activation of mind" (Kahnemann in Attention and effort. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 1973), or "general operation of consciousness" (Thacher and John in Functional euroscience: foundations of cognitive processing. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, 1977), arousal can be considered as a starting point of fundamental research on consciousness.

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This feature presents information for patients in a question and answer format. It is written to simulate actual questions that many pain patients ask and to provide answers in a context and language that most pain patients will comprehend. Issues addressed in this issue are the role of the biofeedback in pain management and Bier blocks for complex regional pain syndrome.

J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2008;22(1):61-3. Fishman SM. Division of Pain Medicine and Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California at Davis, California, USA. smfishman@ucdavis.edu

Phenomenon of the heart rate variability (HRV) during various meditation techniques has been reported. However, most of these techniques emphasized the skill of slow breathing (<0.15 Hz). This paper reports our study on HRV during meditation which emphasizes inward attention. Inward attention has been an important approach for the Zen-meditation practitioners to enter into transcendental consciousness.

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PURPOSE: Hot flashes are a significant problem for many breast cancer survivors. Hot flashes can cause discomfort, disrupted sleep, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. A well-tolerated and effective mind-body treatment for hot flashes would be of great value. On the basis of previous case studies, this study was developed to evaluate the effect of a hypnosis intervention for hot flashes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty female breast cancer survivors with hot flashes were randomly assigned to receive hypnosis intervention (five weekly sessions) or no treatment. Eligible patients had to have a history of primary breast cancer without evidence of detectable disease and 14 or more weekly hot flashes for at least 1 month. The major outcome measure was a bivariate construct that represented hot flash frequency and hot flash score, which was analyzed by a classic sums and differences comparison. Secondary outcome measures were self-reports of interference of hot flashes on daily activities. RESULTS: Fifty-one randomly assigned women completed the study. By the end of the treatment period, hot flash scores (frequency x average severity) decreased 68% from baseline to end point in the hypnosis arm (P < .001). Significant improvements in self-reported anxiety, depression, interference of hot flashes on daily activities, and sleep were observed for patients who received the hypnosis intervention (P < .005) in comparison to the no treatment control group. CONCLUSION: Hypnosis appears to reduce perceived hot flashes in breast cancer survivors and may have additional benefits such as reduced anxiety and depression, and improved sleep.

J Clin Oncol. 2008 Sep 22. Elkins G, Marcus J, Stearns V, Perfect M, Rajab MH, Ruud C, Palamara L, Keith T. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco; Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Temple; Cancer Treatment and Research Center, San Antonio; and University of Texas at Austin, TX; University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; and the Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Byron G. Sabol is an international business development, client relationship management consultant, speaker, and author.

As one of the first senior level law firm client development executives in North America, Byron and his group pioneered marketing and business generation methodologies currently utilized by law firms in the US, the UK, and Europe. Between 1986 and 1994, Mr. Sabol directed the business development programming for one of the nation's premier international law firms.

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Integrative medicine has been defined in several ways. For some it is a discipline that combines such approaches to the resolution of disease as acupuncture and homeopathy, meditation and imagery with more familiar and accepted health practices, such as surgery, pediatrics, and oncology. For others it is about cultivating awareness and sensitivity beyond symptoms to the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient. But, integrative medicine is more than the weaving together of techniques, or understanding the intimate interaction of the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of human experience. It is about rethinking the task of medicine and the infrastructure of relationships and beliefs that have limited its power to serve all people.

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2008 Aug;22(4):767-73, x. Remen RN. Institute for the Study of Health and Illness at Commonweal, Box 316, Bolinas, CA 94924, USA. drrachel@commonweal.org

BACKGROUND: Hypnosis treatment in general practice is a rather new concept. This pilot study was performed to evaluate the effect of a standardized hypnosis treatment used in general practice for patients with chronic widespread pain (CWP). METHODS: The study was designed as a randomized control group-controlled study. Sixteen patients were randomized into a treatment group or a control group, each constituting eight patients. Seven patients in the treatment group completed the schedule. After the control period, five of the patients in the control group also received treatment, making a total of 12 patients having completed the treatment sessions. The intervention group went through a standardized hypnosis treatment with ten consecutive therapeutic sessions once a week, each lasting for about 30 minutes, focusing on ego-strengthening, relaxation, releasing muscular tension and increasing self-efficacy. A questionnaire was developed in order to calibrate the symptoms before and after the 10 weeks period, and the results were interpolated into a scale from 0 to 100, increasing numbers representing increasing suffering. Data were analyzed by means of T-tests. RESULTS: The treatment group improved from their symptoms, (change from 62.5 to 55.4), while the control group deteriorated, (change from 37.2 to 45.1), (p = 0,045). The 12 patients who completed the treatment showed a mean improvement from 51.5 to 41.6. (p = 0,046). One year later the corresponding result was 41.3, indicating a persisting improvement. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that hypnosis treatment may have a positive effect on pain and quality of life for patients with chronic muscular pain. Considering the limited number of patients, more studies should be conducted to confirm the results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov and released 27.08.07 Reg nr NCT00521807 Approval Number: 05032001.

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008 Sep 18;9:124. Grøndahl JR, Rosvold EO. Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. janrob@c2i.net

Prolonged use of computers during daily work activities and recreation is often cited as a cause of neck pain. This review of the literature identifies public health aspects of neck pain as associated with computer use. While some retrospective studies support the hypothesis that frequent computer operation is associated with neck pain, few prospective studies reveal causal relationships. Many risk factors are identified in the literature. Primary prevention strategies have largely been confined to addressing environmental exposure to ergonomic risk factors, since to date, no clear cause for this work-related neck pain has been acknowledged. Future research should include identifying causes of work related neck pain so that appropriate primary prevention strategies may be developed and to make policy recommendations pertaining to prevention.

JCCA J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008 Aug;52(3):161-7. Green BN. Chiropractic Division, Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA.

A native of Beaumont, Texas, Dr. Richard G. Brassard is the son of the late Dr. Gerald M. (Jerry) and May Wurtele Brassard, who were originally from Manchester, N.H., before relocating to Beaumont. Following in the footsteps of his father, who was a respected and admired leader in the chiropractic profession, Dr. Brassard was graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, in 1965. He has postgraduate training from Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) in Roentgenology and Physical Therapy, and received an Impairment and Disability Rating from TCC in 1991. He is licensed to practice in both Texas and New Hampshire.

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Recent neuroimaging studies have identified a set of brain regions that are metabolically active during wakeful rest and consistently deactivate in a variety the performance of demanding tasks. This "default network" has been functionally linked to the stream of thoughts occurring automatically in the absence of goal-directed activity and which constitutes an aspect of mental behavior specifically addressed by many meditative practices. Zen meditation, in particular, is traditionally associated with a mental state of full awareness but reduced conceptual content, to be attained via a disciplined regulation of attention and bodily posture. Using fMRI and a simplified meditative condition interspersed with a lexical decision task, we investigated the neural correlates of conceptual processing during meditation in regular Zen practitioners and matched control subjects. While behavioral performance did not differ between groups, Zen practitioners displayed a reduced duration of the neural response linked to conceptual processing in regions of the default network, suggesting that meditative training may foster the ability to control the automatic cascade of semantic associations triggered by a stimulus and, by extension, to voluntarily regulate the flow of spontaneous mentation.

PLoS ONE. 2008 Sep 3;3(9):e3083. Pagnoni G, Cekic M, Guo Y. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, Untied States of America. gpagnon@emory.edu

How do parents of child patients experience and compare consultations with homeopaths and physicians, and how do they describe an ideal consultation.

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Hypnosis can be defined as a procedure during which changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings or behaviour are suggested. Hypnosis can be used to amplify whatever it is about therapy that makes it therapeutic. It permits a wide range of choices regarding where and how to intervene in the patient's problems. In this paper, we set out to examine the rationale of using hypnotherapy to manage various types of sleep disorders, and to explore the techniques, strategies and hypnotic scripts employed by various hypnotherapists. We also examine the research data available on the efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of sleep disorders. Acute and chronic insomnia often respond to relaxation and hypnotherapy approaches, along with sleep hygiene instructions. Hypnotherapy has also helped with nightmares and sleep terrors. There are several reports of successful use of hypnotherapy for parasomnias, specifically for head and body rocking, bedwetting and sleepwalking. Hypnosis is a specialised technique, not a therapy itself, and should be used as an adjunctive intervention within a complete psychological and medical treatment package. Most of the literature is limited to case reports or studies with such a small sample that at times it is very difficult to interpret the results. There is a major placebo effect, so uncontrolled trials are of limited value. It is hard to perform a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial to evaluate hypnotherapy given that cooperation and rapport between patient and therapist is needed to achieve a receptive trance state.

Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2008 Aug;37(8):683-8. Ng BY, Lee TS. Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. ng.beng.yeong@sgh.com.sg