by Debra Burdick, LCSW

We often hear about Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) in our lives today. Have you ever wondered if you have it, or perhaps your child or spouse? In fact, ADHD was diagnosed in approximately 8%-10% of the school-age population in the 2000 census, 60% of whom eventually become adults with ADHD. This translates into approximately 4% of adults. That's a lot of people.

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The keynote speaker at the 2006 American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) national convention, Cary Bayer is a Life Coach, CE provider licensed by NCBTMB, and faculty member of Massage Business University. He writes regular columns on success and marketing for Massage Today, and for AMTA publications in more than a dozen states. His 27 publications include 10 specifically for massage therapists (LMTs). Cary has coached more than 150 massage therapists and dozens of healers from a variety of modalities. His "Build a $100,000 Annual Massage Business in Just 1 Hour a Day" 6-CE seminar is very popular among LMTs.

For more information visit www.CaryBayer.com

The present work aimed at assessing whether the interference exerted by task-irrelevant spatial information is comparable in high- and low-susceptible individuals and whether it may be eliminated by means of a specific posthypnotic suggestion. To this purpose high- and low-susceptible participants were tested using a Simon-like interference task after the administration of a suggestion aimed at preventing the processing of the irrelevant spatial information conveyed by the stimuli. The suggestion could be administered either in the absence or following a standard hypnotic induction. We showed that, outside from the hypnotic context, the Simon effect was similar in high and low-susceptible participants and it was significantly reduced following the posthypnotic suggestion in high-susceptible participants only. These results show that a specific posthypnotic suggestion can alter information processing in high-susceptible individuals and reduce the interfering effect exerted by arrow stimuli.

Conscious Cogn. 2009 Jul 31. Iani C, Ricci F, Baroni G, Rubichi S. Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali, Cognitive e Quantitative, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of use of complementary and alternative systems of medicine by different segments of society and to identify the diseases in which they have been found to be effective. METHODS: This was a questionnaire-based descriptive study carried out from April 2002 to March 2004, in selected urban and rural areas of four provinces of Pakistan representing general strata of population from various socioeconomic conditions. RESULTS: The overall trend in Pakistan shows that 51.7% (CI 54.3-49.1) chose complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) while 48.3% (CI 50.71-48.89) chose biomedicine. Of those who chose CAM, 20% (CI 21-19) also used biomedicine as well; 16% (CI 16.8-15.2) homeopathy, 12.4% (CI 13.02-11.78) unani medicine, 2.1% (CI 2.20-1.99) mind-body medicine (faith healing), 0.9% biologically based practices (home remedies, diet and nutrition) 0.05% energy medicine (Reiki), 0.05% Traditional Chinese Medicine, and 0.02% aromatherapy. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the studied population used CAM. The population estimates of use of CAM are within the range reported elsewhere. It reflects an increasing popularity of CAM in Pakistan as well. Combined use of biomedicine with CAM was common and often patients did not reveal the use of CAM to the biomedicine practitioners.

J Altern Complement Med. 2009 May;15(5):545-50. Shaikh SH, Malik F, James H, Abdul H. Drugs Control Division, NIH, Islamabad, Pakistan. shshaikh2001@yahoo.com

by Jeff Belyea, PhD

"Be outrageous. It's the only place that isn't crowded." --Anon

Sound a trumpet blast! Fling open the door! Flip the switch on the floodlights of wisdom and knowledge about the only universal healthcare plan that may ever work without bankrupting the country.

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Full Title: A cognitive behavior therapy-based intervention among poorly controlled adult type 1 diabetes patients-A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of a Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)-based intervention on HbA(1c), self-care behaviors and psychosocial factors among poorly controlled adult type 1 diabetes patients. METHODS: Ninety-four type 1 diabetes patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention was based on CBT and was mainly delivered in group format, but individual sessions were also included. All subjects were provided with a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) during two 3-day periods. HbA(1c), self-care behaviors and psychosocial factors were measured up to 48 weeks. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed with respect to HbA(1c) (P<0.05), well-being (P<0.05), diabetes-related distress (P<0.01), frequency of blood glucose testing (P<0.05), avoidance of hypoglycemia (P<0.01), perceived stress (P<0.05), anxiety (P<0.05) and depression (P<0.05), all of which showed greater improvement in the intervention group compared with the control group. A significant difference (P<0.05) was registered with respect to non-severe hypoglycemia, which yielded a higher score in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: This CBT-based intervention appears to be a promising approach to diabetes self-management. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Diabetes care may benefit from applying tools commonly used in CBT. For further scientific evaluation in clinical practice, there is a need for specially educated diabetes care teams, trained in the current approach, as well as cooperation between diabetes care teams and psychologists trained in CBT.

Patient Educ Couns. 2009 Mar 16. Amsberg S, Anderbro T, Wredling R, Lisspers J, Lins PE, Adamson U, Johansson UB. Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Division of Medicine, House 17, 4th floor, SE-182 88 Stockholm, Sweden; Sophiahemmet University College Stockholm, Sweden.

Beliefs and attitudes toward hypnosis of Spanish psychologists. The aims of this study are to analyze Spanish psychologists' beliefs and attitudes toward hypnosis and to examine the responses obtained in different branches of the Spanish Psychological Association. The results will be useful for this Association in order to know psychologists' needs of training in hypnosis. The Valencia Scale of Attitudes and Beliefs toward Hypnosis-Therapist was applied to 2434 Spanish psychologists. Results indicated that participants, in general, hold correct beliefs about hypnosis and showed a positive attitude toward it. No differences in beliefs and attitudes toward hypnosis were found among different branches of the Association. Because of the fact that there was a low response, it would be worthwhile for the different branches of the Spanish Psychological Association to repeat this research, increasing the sample size and offering scientific information about hypnosis. This would be very helpful to promote the efficacious and non-iatrogenic use of hypnosis.

Psicothema. 2009 Aug;21(3):465-70. Mendoza ME, Capafons A, Espejo B, Montalvo D. Universitat de Valencia.

BACKGROUND: 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). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire was sent to 247 CLL patients of all clinical stages and disease durations, treated and untreated. The questionnaire was returned anonymously by 87 patients (35%). RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (44%) had used alternative treatments. No correlation was seen with educational level, gender, or previous or current chemotherapy. The most common alternative or complementary treatment modality was vitamin supplementation (26%), followed by mineral (18%), homeopathic (14%), and mistletoe therapy (9.2%). Some 21% of patients considered their alternative treatment as being successful. Most patients reported that they decided to use CAM after conducting a personal investigation and based on the information they found, without outside recommendations (59%). The majority of the patients used patient brochures about CLL as an important source of information (54%), followed by specific lectures (34%) or the internet (32%). CONCLUSION: Our data show that patients with CLL use a wide range of CAM, among them potentially harmful methods. Rational, evidence-based medical information about the effects and risks of CAM use should be made available through patient brochures distributed by patient organizations, through information events with lectures, or via the internet.

Support Care Cancer. 2009 Jan;17(1):47-52. Epub 2008 May 6. Hensel M, Zoz M, Ho AD. Department of Medicine V, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Hensel@mannheimer-onkologie-praxis.de

by Joyce-Anne Locking

When someone plays back a tape recording and you hear the sound of your own voice for the first time, you may find it very amusing. Know that your voice is an instrument of the universe when you become a pure channel for her energy. Now you become the energy and the universe allows you an instrument of choice to work through. Your instrument may be a camera, pen, paintbrush, piano, computer, stove, or anything that allows you creative expression. No one can tell you how to express your own needs. No one can tell you what you must paint, cook, or play. They may suggest but the choice is always up to you. How do you see you work unfolding? This is your sacred space. Learn to focus on your own needs in order to express your desires.

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Christel Autuori is a graduate of Lotus Gardens Yoga and is a certified AcuYoga instructor. She has been practicing yoga for over thirty years, primarily the gentle Kripalu and Anusara styles of yoga. She has been teaching in Ridgefield, CT for the past six years. Christel has written several articles about yoga which have appeared in national publications. Christel has been trained and is certified to teach yoga to children through Growing Lotus Kids She is registered with the nationally recognized Yoga Alliance. Christel is also a certified Reiki I and II practitioner, and is a frequent contributor to www.NourishThis.com, providing information about yoga, meditation, and guided imagery.

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Research using theory-based interventions to promote regular physical activity (PA) has increased substantially over the past decade. The purpose of this article is to provide a review and summary of PA intervention research specific to fidelity to intervention theory, providing an overview of the concept of fidelity to intervention theory, defining the evaluative components of fidelity: (a) conceptualization of the problem, (b) operationalization of the theory, (c) specification of mediating processes, and (d) specification of outcome variables. Using journal scans and computerized literature database searches, the authors identified 470 PA activity intervention studies that incorporated a theoretical perspective. A validity framework explicated by was used to summarize intervention research in light of fidelity to intervention theory. In all, 15 intervention studies met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the review. Theoretical models for health behavior change, including social cognitive theory (SCT), cognitive behavioral theory (CBT), the transtheoretical model (TTM, the TTM combined with SCT), the reversal theory (theory of psychological reversals), and the disconnected values theory, were used as a basis for intervention design and evaluation.

West J Nurs Res. 2009 Apr;31(3):289-311. Keller C, Fleury J, Sidani S, Ainsworth B. Arizona State University, USA. colleen.keller@asu.edu

by David Siever, Edmonton, ALberta, Canada

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) strikes all people from all nations, not just those near the poles of the earth as might be thought. The treatment of SAD has traditionally involved the use of anti-depressants, and more recently, light box therapy. Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) has also been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of this genetically based affective disorder and its related anxious/depressive/dietary conditions.

Full Text.

For more information visit www.MindAlive.com

Full Title: Innate immune, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress do not predict subsequent compassion meditation practice time

Increasing data suggest that meditation impacts stress-related physiological processes relevant to health and disease. For example, our group recently reported that the practice of compassion meditation was associated with reduced innate immune (plasma interleukin [IL]-6) and subjective distress responses to a standardized laboratory psychosocial stressor (Trier Social Stress Test [TSST]). However, because we administered a TSST after, but not prior to, meditation training in our initial study, it remained possible that associations between practice time and TSST outcomes reflected the fact that participants with reduced stress responses prior to training were more able to practice compassion meditation, rather than that meditation practice reduced stress responses. To help resolve this ambiguity, we conducted the current study to evaluate whether innate immune, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to a TSST conducted prior to compassion meditation training in an independent sample of 32 medically health young adults would predict subsequent amount of meditation practice time during a compassion meditation training protocol identical to the one used in our first study. No associations were found between responses to a TSST administered prior to compassion meditation training and subsequent amount of meditation practice, whether practice time was considered as a continuous variable or whether meditators were divided into high and low practice time groups based on a median split of mean number of practice sessions per week. These findings contrast strikingly with our original study, in which high and low practice time meditators demonstrated marked differences in IL-6 and distress responses to a TSST administered after meditation training. In addition to providing the first published data regarding stress responsivity as a potential predictor of subsequent ability/willingness to practice meditation, the current study strengthens findings from our initial work by supporting the conclusion that in individuals who actively engage in practicing the technique, compassion meditation may represent a viable strategy for reducing potentially deleterious physiological and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress.

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 Jul 15. Pace TW, Negi LT, Sivilli TI, Issa MJ, Cole SP, Adame DD, Raison CL. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Center, 1365C Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.

OBJECTIVE: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may influence surgical care by inducing coagulopathies and interacting with other medication. We investigated the prevalence and pattern of CAM use in patients admitted to our department for elective otolaryngologic surgery. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Tertiary care referral centre in northeast Scotland. METHOD AND PATIENTS: All adult patients admitted for elective surgery, over a 14-week period from October 2005 to January 2006, were requested to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics using SPSS version 12 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To establish the prevalence of CAM use in patients admitted for surgery in our unit. Secondary measures included the type of CAM used, indications for use, perceived benefit, and communication with the family physician. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent (177 of 285) of the patient group had used CAM-36% in the preceding year. Popular remedies were cod liver oil, garlic, aloe vera, cranberry, echinacea, primrose oil, herbal vitamin supplement, and St. John's wort. Nonherbal therapies included massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga, homeopathy, and osteopathy. Nine percent used CAM for their admission illness. Only 8% (15 of 177) found CAM ineffective. Only 76 of 177 (43%) had discussed their CAM use with their family doctor. CONCLUSION: Despite concerns over its safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness, the use of CAM is common among patients undergoing otolaryngologic and head and neck surgery. This has implications for all health care workers involved in their care, in particular the anesthetist and the surgeon. A detailed history of CAM use by patients should be taken and documented during the preoperative clerking.

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009 Jun;38(3):355-61. Shakeel M, Newton JR, Ah-See KW. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB252ZN, UK. drshakeel@doctors.org.uk

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to test a multifaceted distraction method designed to reduce injection-associated pain in school-aged children. METHODS: A clinical trial evaluated 41 children, 4 to 6 years of age, who were given 3 standard prekindergarten immunizations; 21 were assigned randomly to an office routine control group, whereas 20 received a multifaceted, discomfort-reducing intervention. The intervention added verbal suggestions of diminished sensation and a visual focusing activity to the use of ethyl chloride, an established pain-reducing measure. The distraction materials used for the intervention consisted of topical ethyl chloride spray, an improvised, plastic, multipronged arm gripper, and a vibrating instrument descending on the contralateral arm, which provided the focusing task and visual distraction. RESULTS: According to patient and parent Faces Pain Scale-Revised scores and nonblinded, video-taped observations scored according to the face-legs-activity-crying-consolability method, the intervention group showed highly significant reductions in pain and discomfort, compared with the control group (patient self-report, P < .0013; parent report, P < .0002; observation score, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: This multifaceted distraction intervention reduced significantly the pain and discomfort of childhood immunizations in children 4 to 6 years of age.

Pediatrics. 2009 Aug;124(2):e203-9. Epub 2009 Jul 13. Berberich FR, Landman Z. Pediatric Medical Group, Berkeley, California 94705, USA. dr.berberich@pediatricsuggestions.net

by Christy Witman

Your entire outer reality reflects how you feel about yourself. This is based on the Law of Attraction and the Law of Reflection. You have everything in your world for a reason and that reason is there to serve you. Do you know that whatever you have attracted into your life right now is precisely what you need to grow and expand? Think about a situation in your life that is negative or not exactly what you desire. Describe how this situation makes you feel. Ask yourself, how can I use this situation to help me learn and grow? What insights can you learn about yourself from this situation? Everything that comes to you is a tool to help you reach to the next level. Think about it . . . you have situations in your life that are personal just to you and specific for your growth. Your friends, family members and co-workers do not have the same situations and circumstances in their lives. We attract what we need in our lives, and that includes life lessons. If you start looking at situations as a blessing and an opportunity for growth, you come from a place of expanding instead of contracting. Answers and guidance will come to you in that place instead of fighting what is happening in your life. It is The Law of Attraction in action. Here is to your life lessons!

For more information visit www.7essentiallaws.com"

AIMS: To determine whether definable subtypes exist within a cohort of patients listening to music with regard to their physiological patterns and to compare whether associated factors vary between subjects in groups with different profiles. BACKGROUND: The intensive care unit (ICU) is one of the most stressful environments for patients among various clinical settings in a hospital. ICU patients are not only compromised by illness but also faced with a wide range of stressors. DESIGN: A repeated-measures design was conducted with one music group. METHOD: One hundred and one patients were recruited in three intensive care units in Hong Kong. There were two main outcome variables: demographic characteristics and physiological outcomes. RESULTS: A cluster analysis yielded two clusters. Patients in cluster 1 typically experienced relatively low therapeutic effects from listening to music. There were more males, of a younger age but more educated and employed than patients in cluster 2, and they represented 41.6% of the total respondents. Cluster 2 comprised almost 58.4% of this study sample and they reported high therapeutic effects of music. There were more females in this group as well as more older people and they mainly used a ventilator in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that music may have a more positive effect on groups of patients whose profile is similar to that of the patients in cluster 2, than for patients such as those in cluster 1. A clear profile may help health professionals to design appropriate care therapy to target a specific group of patients to improve their physiological outcomes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The implication of this study is that music therapy should be provided to patients as a relaxation technique if they are willing to accept it, and the selection of music should be based on their preferences. Information should be given to patients so that they can understand how music therapy works and they should be encouraged to focus their attention on listening to the music to maximise its benefits.

J Clin Nurs. 2009 May;18(9):1250-7. Chan MF, Chung YF, Chung SW, Lee OK. Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore. nurcmf@nus.edu.sg

Full Title: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety-disordered youth: secondary outcomes from a randomized clinical trial evaluating child and family modalities.

This study examined secondary outcomes of a randomized clinical trial that evaluated an individual cognitive-behavioral (ICBT), family-based cognitive-behavioral (FCBT), and family-based education, support and attention (FESA) treatment for anxious youth. Participants (161) were between 7 and 14 years (M=10.27) of age and had a principal diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, and/or generalized anxiety disorder. Hierarchical linear modeling examined youth-reported depressive symptomatology and parent- and teacher-reported externalizing behavior and adaptive functioning at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-year follow-up. In general, youth in all treatments evidenced improvements in most domains, with improvements maintained at follow-up. Overall, gender and age did not moderate treatment outcomes. The results suggest that both child and family cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the family-based supportive approach used in this study, can be effective in addressing some of the associated symptoms and adaptive functioning deficits typically linked to anxiety in youth.

J Anxiety Disord. 2009 Apr;23(3):341-9. Suveg C, Hudson JL, Brewer G, Flannery-Schroeder E, Gosch E, Kendall PC. Psychology Building, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. csuveg@uga.edu

by Debra Burdick, LCSW

Did you know that 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are due to stress-related illness? We've all heard about stress: what causes it, what it does to us. But have you really thought about the stressors in your life? And have you developed healthy habits for managing stress?

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FULL TITLE: Effect of hypnosis on oral function and psychological factors in temporomandibular disorders patients

This study investigated the effect of hypnosis in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with focus on oral function and psychological outcomes. Forty women (mean age +/- s.d.: 38.6 +/- 10.8 years) suffering from TMD (mean duration 11.9 +/- 9.9 years) were randomized to four individual 1-hour sessions of either hypnotic intervention or a control condition of simple relaxation. Pain intensity was assessed three times daily on a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale. Additional outcomes were TMD-associated symptoms assessed by the Research Diagnostic Criteria examination form and questionnaire, psychological symptoms (Symptom Check List 60), pain coping strategies (Coping Strategies Questionnaire), sleep difficulties (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and use of analgesics. Data were analyzed with between-groups within-subjects anovas. The hypnosis group significantly reduced the daily NRS pain scores from 4.5 +/- 2.1 at baseline to 2.9 +/- 2.4 after treatment (P < 0.001) compared to the control group where no significant changes were found (4.2 +/- 1.4 to 3.9 +/- 1.5) (P = 0.733). Number needed to treat for a 50% pain reduction was 4.0. The hypnosis group also increased use of the coping strategy 'reinterpreting pain sensations' from 5.2 +/- 6.9 to 10.3 +/- 6.8 (P < 0.001). Both groups exhibited significant reductions in the number of painful muscle palpation sites and pain on palpation (P < 0.004), in number of awakenings due to pain (P < 0.006), and in somatization, obsessive compulsive symptoms and anxiety (P < 0.004). Hypnosis thus appears to effectively reduce some aspects of complex TMD pain.

J Oral Rehabil. 2009 Aug;36(8):556-70. Abrahamsen R, Zachariae R, Svensson P. Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. rabrahamsen@odont.au.dk

by Don Pelles

How do you control your weight? Or do you control it?

I'm sure there are people out there who keep the same weight without ever consciously thinking about it; they automatically turn their metabolism and appetite up and down as needed, so their body mass remains the same without them ever having to think about it, week after week, year after year.

I am not one of these people. For about forty years I have maintained a healthy weight, even lowering it about twenty pounds over the last twenty years, but for me the process has always been conscious – I have to work at it. As a hypnotherapist I use hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help people reduce and control their weight, but right now I am speaking from experience that is personal as well as professional.

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This study examined the effects of meditation on mental imagery, evaluating Buddhist monks' reports concerning their extraordinary imagery skills. Practitioners of Buddhist meditation were divided into two groups according to their preferred meditation style: Deity Yoga (focused attention on an internal visual image) or Open Presence (evenly distributed attention, not directed to any particular object). Both groups of meditators completed computerized mental-imagery tasks before and after meditation. Their performance was compared with that of control groups, who either rested or performed other visuospatial tasks between testing sessions. The results indicate that all the groups performed at the same baseline level, but after meditation, Deity Yoga practitioners demonstrated a dramatic increase in performance on imagery tasks compared with the other groups. The results suggest that Deity meditation specifically trains one's capacity to access heightened visuospatial processing resources, rather than generally improving visuospatial imagery abilities.

Psychol Sci. 2009 May;20(5):645-53. Kozhevnikov M, Louchakova O, Josipovic Z, Motes MA. Psychology Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. mkozhevn@gmu.edu

Full Title; Maintenance treatment for anorexia nervosa: a comparison of cognitive behavior therapy and treatment as usual.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare two maintenance treatment conditions for weight-restored anorexia nervosa (AN): individual cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and maintenance treatment as usual (MTAU). METHOD: This study was a nonrandomized clinical trial. The participants were 88 patients with AN who had achieved a minimum body mass index (BMI) of 19.5 and control of binge eating and purging symptoms after completing a specialized hospital-based program. Forty-six patients received 1 year of manualized individual CBT and 42 were in an assessment-only control condition (i.e., MTAU) for 1 year. This condition was intended to mirror follow-up care as usual. Participants in both the conditions were assessed at 3-month intervals during the 1-year study. The main outcome variable was time to relapse. RESULTS: When relapse was defined as a BMI Int J Eat Disord. 2009 Apr;42(3):202-7. Carter JC, McFarlane TL, Bewell C, Olmsted MP, Woodside DB, Kaplan AS, Crosby RD. Department of Psychiatry, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. jacqueline.carter@uhn.on.ca

FULL TITLE: The effectiveness of hypnosis for reducing procedure-related pain in children and adolescents: a comprehensive methodological review

A comprehensive, methodologically informed review of studies of the effectiveness of hypnosis for reducing procedure-related pain in children and adolescents is provided. To be included in the review, studies were required to use a between-subjects or mixed model design in which hypnosis was compared with a control condition or an alternative intervention in reducing the procedure-related pain of patients younger than age 19. An exhaustive search identified 13 studies satisfying these criteria. Hypnosis was consistently found to be more effective than control conditions in alleviating discomfort associated with bone marrow aspirations, lumbar punctures, voiding cystourethograms, the Nuss procedure, and post-surgical pain. Furthermore, hypnosis was as at least as effective as distraction. Three hypnotic interventions met criteria as a possibly efficacious empirically supported therapy for reducing post-surgical or lumbar puncture pain. Several other hypnotic interventions would have achieved the status of a possibly efficacious therapy had studies used a treatment manual.

J Behav Med. 2009 Aug;32(4):328-39. Epub 2009 Mar 3. Accardi MC, Milling LS. Department of Psychology, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA.

David Kohlhagen LPC, NBCCH is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist in private practice in St. Louis, Missouri. With a career-long interest in holistic health and healing, he has been a practicing psychotherapist for thirty years. In 1997 he began a hypnotherapy apprenticeship with Dr. Jon Connelly of Jupiter, Florida, with whom he attended numerous residential training experiences, served as an assistant trainer and obtained several hundred hours of training experience. He is the author of the soon-to-be-published psychology/self-help book, Force of Habit: Get Well and Stay Well by Clearing Up Your Bad Habits of Mind, Body and Spirit (working title). Doing business as Tranceformation, he provides hypnotherapy, coaching, consultation and professional training.

For more information visit www.TranceFormation.us.

by Avghi Constantinides D.hom HMC MA

Homeopathy is a holistic therapeutic medical science based upon the teachings of Hahnemann. The primary precept, "The Law of Similars", is used to treat children, adults and animals, using minute doses of potentize substances from the plant, mineral and animal kingdoms. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann of Germany, is the founder of Homeopathic Medicine, born in 1755 and died at the age of 89 in 1843.

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BACKGROUND: Effective treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) relies on a correct classification of so called 'fluctuating active' versus 'passive' patients. For successful treatment with CBT is it especially important to recognise the passive patients and give them a tailored treatment protocol. In the present study it was evaluated whether CFS patient's physical activity pattern can be assessed most accurately with the 'Activity Pattern Interview' (API), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) or the CFS-Activity Questionnaire (CFS-AQ). METHODS: The three instruments were validated compared to actometers. Actometers are until now the best and most objective instrument to measure physical activity, but they are too expensive and time consuming for most clinical practice settings. In total 226 CFS patients enrolled for CBT therapy answered the API at intake and filled in the two questionnaires. Directly after intake they wore the actometer for two weeks. Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves the validity of the three methods were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Both the API and the two questionnaires had an acceptable validity (0.64 to 0.71). None of the three instruments was significantly better than the others. The proportion of false predictions was rather high for all three instrument. The IPAQ had the highest proportion of correct passive predictions (sensitivity 70.1%). CONCLUSION: The validity of all three instruments appeared to be fair, and all showed rather high proportions of false classifications. Hence in fact none of the tested instruments could really be called satisfactory. Because the IPAQ showed to be the best in correctly predicting 'passive' CFS patients, which is most essentially related to treatment results, it was concluded that the IPAQ is the preferable alternative for an actometer when treating CFS patients in clinical practice.

Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009 Apr 1;7:29. Scheeres K, Knoop H, Meer J, Bleijenberg G. Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (4628), PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. korinescheeres@gmail.com

Dave graduated in 1978 as an engineering technologist. He later worked in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Alberta designing TMJ Dysfunction related diagnostic equipment and research facilities. He organized research projects, taught basic physiology and the advanced TMJ diagnostics course. Dave had noted anxiety issues in many patients suffering with TMJ dysfunction, prompting him to study biofeedback, which he applied to their patients and later design biofeedback devices. In 1984, Dave designed his first audio-visual entrainment (AVE) device – the "Digital Audio-visual Integration Device," or DAVID1. Since this time, through his company, Mind Alive Inc., Dave has been researching and refining AVE technology since, specifically for use in relaxation, and treating anxiety, depression, PMS, ADD, FMS, SAD, pain, cognitive decline and insomnia, which he presents at conferences and for special interest groups. Dave also designs Cranio-Electro Stimulation (CES), transcranial DC stimulation and biofeedback devices. Dave continues to conduct research and designs new products relating to personal growth and wellness.

For more information visit www.MindAlive.com.

by Kathy Caprino, MA

Are you a professional woman longing for a radical change?

You are not alone.

According to my research--a yearlong national study in partnership with the Esteemed Woman Foundation--seven out of 10 women today, particularly those in their middle years, say they are facing a major turning point in their professional lives. After devoting years to building successful careers, they feel that their professional lives and identities no longer work. As a result, most are facing at least one of 12 hidden work-life crises, including chronic health problems, financial bondage, and painful losses of the "real me."

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By Sharon M. O'Connor, RN

Companies today carefully calculate their bottom line, and the current cost of health care is of global concern. Yet, how often is one important ingredient--STRESS--factored in? The Gallup Organization Well Being Index, the country's largest poll of health and well-being, polls at least 1,000 adults daily. Here are some of their recent findings:

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Dr. Gucciardi holds degrees and certificates in transpersonal psychology, cultural anthropology, comparative religion, hypnotherapy, and transformational healing. She has spent over 25 years studying spiritual, therapeutic, and meditative techniques from around the world. She has worked with master teachers of Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism and Sufism, as well as expert shamanic practitioners from the traditions of Hawaii, indigenous North and South America, Siberia, and Nepal. A few of her teachers include Joseph Campbell, Michael Harner, Marie Louise Von Franz, and currently she is a senior student of the honorable Tulku Lama Lobsang Thamchoe Nyima.

Dr. Gucciardi is the creator of Depth Hypnosis, a groundbreaking therapeutic model that has won rave reviews from psychotherapeutic and spiritual counselors alike. She has published numerous articles, been featured in several documentaries, and has written two books which will be published later this year. Dr. Gucciardi is also the founding director of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, a non-profit organization and resource center where she offers trainings in Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanism, Buddhist Psychology Studies and Integrated Energy Medicine.

Dr. Gucciardi speaks five languages, and has lived in 11 countries. In addition to directing the Foundation of the Sacred Stream and teaching many of its courses, she maintains an active hypnotherapy and shamanic healing practice in San Francisco. She is a mother and now lives with her partner, Laura Chandler, a professional musician who also serves as a Board and faculty member of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream.

For more information visit www.SacredStream.org.

In three experiments, undergraduates' subjective experiences were affected by positive magical intervention. A large number of participants accepted the offer of magical help, yet the outcomes they reported were contrary to the aims of the magical intervention. In Experiment 1, participants were offered magical help that aimed to improve their practical skills. However, in the magical-suggestion condition, they reported no improvement significantly more frequently than in the control no-suggestion condition. In Experiment 2, participants who accepted the offer of magical help aimed at improving their general life satisfaction reported a significant decrease in this satisfaction. Those who declined the offer of magical help reported a significant increase in satisfaction. In Experiment 3, in the magical-suggestion condition, participants experienced bad dreams significantly more frequently than in the control condition. In conclusion, the data suggest that adult participants protect their subjective experiences against magical intervention.

Br J Psychol. 2009 Aug;100(Pt 3):517-37. Epub 2008 Oct 31. Subbotsky E. Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. E.Subbotsky@lancaster.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence supports the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with chronic pain. OBJECTIVE: This study determined whether physical therapists incorporate CBT techniques (eg, relaxation, activity pacing) when treating older patients with chronic pain, ascertained their interest in and barriers to using CBT, and identified participant-related factors associated with interest in CBT. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used a telephone survey. METHODS: One hundred fifty-two members of the Geriatrics and Orthopaedics sections of the American Physical Therapy Association completed the survey. Associations between participant-related factors and interest in CBT were assessed in statistical general linear models. RESULTS: Commonly used CBT interventions included activity pacing and pleasurable activity scheduling, frequently used by 81% and 30% of the respondents, respectively. Non-CBT treatments included exercises focusing on joint stability (94%) and mobility (94%), and strengthening and stretching programs (91%). Respondents' overall interest in CBT techniques was 12.70 (SD=3.4, scale range=5-20). Barriers to use of CBT included lack of knowledge of and skill in the techniques, reimbursement concerns, and time constraints. Practice type and the interaction of percentage of patients with pain and educational degree of the physical therapist were independently associated with provider interest in CBT in a general linear model that also included 6 other variables specified a priori. LIMITATIONS: Data are based on self-report without regard to treatment emphasis. CONCLUSIONS: Although only a minority of physical therapists reported use of some CBT techniques when treating older patients with chronic pain, their interest in incorporating these techniques into practice is substantial. Concerns with their skill level using the techniques, time constraints, and reimbursement constitute barriers to use of the interventions.

Phys Ther. 2009 May;89(5):456-69. Beissner K, Henderson CR Jr, Papaleontiou M, Olkhovskaya Y, Wigglesworth J, Reid MC. Department of Physical Therapy, Ithaca College, 953 Danby Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA. beissner@ithaca.edu

by Debra Burdick, LCSW

Everyone has normal ups and downs in how they feel. Sometimes an episode of feeling down or sad turns into Depression and persists for some time. And sometimes depression is a result of a medical condition. Whether you bounce back quickly from feeling depressed or whether you suffer from chronic or recurrent episodes of Major Depression, use the following suggestions to help yourself feel better.

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