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

The effect of therapeutic touch on behavioral symptoms and cortisol in persons with dementia

Posted At : December 15, 2009 4:47 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Reiki/Therapeutic Touch


BACKGROUND: Between 75-90% of nursing home (NH) residents with dementia develop behavioral symptoms (BSD) which may be associated with a stress response. Therapeutic touch has been shown to decrease restlessness in NH residents, however the mechanism is unknown. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to examine the effect of therapeutic touch on BSD and basal cortisol levels among NH residents with dementia. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Using a double blind experimental interrupted time series ABAB design, 65 participants were assigned to one of three groups. The experimental group received therapeutic touch with contact on the neck and shoulders delivered twice daily for 3 days (administered over 2 separate treatment periods); the placebo group received a mimic treatment identical in appearance, and the control group received routine care. Study outcomes were BSD, measured by the modified Agitated Behavior Rating Scale (mABRS), and salivary cortisol levels, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: 64 residents, aged 67-93 years (M = 85.5, SD = 5.50), completed the study. Restlessness was significantly reduced in the experimental group compared to the control group (p = 0.03). There was a significant difference in morning cortisol variability among groups across time periods (<0.0001). Findings suggest that therapeutic touch may be effective for management of symptoms like restlessness coupled with stress reduction. At a time when cost containment is a consideration in health care, therapeutic touch is an intervention that is non-invasive, readily learned, and can provide a non-pharmacologic alternative for selected persons with BSD. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Forsch Komplementmed. 2009 Jun;16(3):181-9. Epub 2009 Jun 5. Woods DL, Beck C, Sinha K. School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, USA. lwoods@sonnet.ucla.edu

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Benefits to Detoxifying Your Body

Posted At : December 15, 2009 2:06 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: General


by Brenda J. Crawford-Bee

Detoxification of the body has been around for centuries, as far back as Ancient Egypt. Body detox or body cleansing became popular in recent centuries during the 19the century, but fell out of favor in the early 20th century. Detoxification, ridding the body of toxins, is a treatment in alternative medicine, and abandoned my mainstream medicine.

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No Change in Rectal Sensitivity After Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy

Posted At : December 15, 2009 12:00 AM | Posted By : Tim Brunson, PhD
Related Categories: Research


Full Title: No Change in Rectal Sensitivity After Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy in Children With Irritible Bowel Syndrome

OBJECTIVES:Gut-directed hypnotherapy (HT) has recently been shown to be highly effective in treating children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study was conducted to determine the extent to which this treatment success is because of an improvement in rectal sensitivity.METHODS:A total of 46 patients (aged 8-18 years) with FAP (n=28) or IBS (n=18) were randomized to either 12 weeks of standard medical therapy (SMT) or HT. To assess rectal sensitivity, a pressure-controlled intermittent distension protocol (barostat) was performed before and after the therapy.RESULTS:Rectal sensitivity scores changed in SMT patients from 15.1+/-7.3 mm Hg at baseline to 18.6+/-8.5 mm Hg after 12 weeks of treatment (P=0.09) and in HT patients from 17.0+/-9.2 mm Hg to 22.5+/-10.1 mm Hg (P=0.09). The number of patients with rectal hypersensitivity decreased from 6 of 18 to 0 of 18 in the HT group (P=0.04) vs. 6 of 20 to 4 of 20 in the SMT group (P=0.67). No relationship was established between treatment success and rectal pain thresholds. Rectal sensitivity scores at baseline were not correlated with intensity, frequency, or duration of abdominal pain.CONCLUSIONS:Clinical success achieved with HT cannot be explained by improvement in rectal sensitivity. Furthermore, no association could be found between rectal barostat findings and clinical symptoms in children with FAP or IBS. Further studies are necessary to shed more light on both the role of rectal sensitivity in pediatric FAP and IBS and the mechanisms by which hypnotherapy results in improvement of clinical symptoms.Am J Gastroenterol advance online publication, 27 October 2009; doi:10.1038/ajg.2009.613.

Am J Gastroenterol. 2009 Oct 27. Vlieger AM, van den Berg MM, Menko-Frankenhuis C, Bongers ME, Tromp E, Benninga MA. Department of Pediatrics, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

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