Although a number of studies on traditional Chinese medicine, such as qi-gong (QG), acupuncture (AC), moxibustion and Chinese herbal drugs, have been reported in recent years, there are few reports on human cerebral evoked potentials (EPs), especially relating only to QG and AC. In the present study, we examined the changes in EPs and electroencephalogram (EEG) by QG, and by AC stimulation to the point called "Zusanli" on the left lower leg, with one healthy male adult. 1. With regard to the effect of QG, significant changes in EP-components originated from the cortex suggest both facilitating and inhibitory effects of QG on the cortex. However, no significant changes in EP-components originated from the subcortex and no significant changes in EEG power% suggest that QG does not affect the subcortex. 2.With regard to the effects of AC, significant changes in EP-components originated from the cortex suggest facilitating and inhibitory effects of AC stimulation on the cortex. Furthermore, it is suggested that AC stimulation has few effects on the somatosensory and the visual pathways up to the cortex, while it has complicated effects on the auditory pathway up to the cortex.

J Med Invest. 1998 Feb;44(3-4):163-71. Xu M, Tomotake M, Ikuta T, Ishimoto Y, Okura M. Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Japan.

Check out this hypnosis tutorial series by Rob Hadley, CHt:

For more information visit www.vancouverhypnotherapy.org.

Full Title: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression: Possibilities and Limitations of a Transdiagnostic Perspective

In the last several years, a number of researchers have developed a transdiagnostic or unified group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that is provided to a diagnostically heterogeneous group consisting of individuals with various anxiety disorders and/or depression. This article provides a review of recent developments within this transdiagnostic perspective to CBT. Three approaches to transdiagnostic CBT are considered that vary in their theoretical emphasis. At this time, the unified protocol for emotional disorders offers the most cogent theory-driven transdiagnostic treatment approach, although its efficacy has yet to be demonstrated. The advantages and challenges of transdiagnostic CBT are reviewed, and the article concludes with a proposal that future research on transdiagnostic CBT would be better served if viewed as complementary rather than antagonist to well-established manualized disorder-specific CBT for the anxiety disorders and depression.

Cogn Behav Ther. 2009 Aug 17:1. Clark DA. Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Carol Henderson is the founder of New Day Hypnotherapy, LLC. She practices in the Overland Park, Kansas area, serving the greater Kansas City area.

Carol holds a B.S. degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She is a former art teacher, as well as a former Health Educator for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

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BACKGROUND: For children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a reduction of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity by neurofeedback (NF) has been reported in several studies. But so far, unspecific training effects have not been adequately controlled for and/or studies do not provide sufficient statistical power. To overcome these methodological shortcomings we evaluated the clinical efficacy of neurofeedback in children with ADHD in a multisite randomised controlled study using a computerised attention skills training as a control condition. METHODS: 102 children with ADHD, aged 8 to 12 years, participated in the study. Children performed either 36 sessions of NF training or a computerised attention skills training within two blocks of about four weeks each (randomised group assignment). The combined NF treatment consisted of one block of theta/beta training and one block of slow cortical potential (SCP) training. Pre-training, intermediate and post-training assessment encompassed several behaviour rating scales (e.g., the German ADHD rating scale, FBB-HKS) completed by parents and teachers. Evaluation ('placebo') scales were applied to control for parental expectations and satisfaction with the treatment. RESULTS: For parent and teacher ratings, improvements in the NF group were superior to those of the control group. For the parent-rated FBB-HKS total score (primary outcome measure), the effect size was .60. Comparable effects were obtained for the two NF protocols (theta/beta training, SCP training). Parental attitude towards the treatment did not differ between NF and control group. CONCLUSIONS: Superiority of the combined NF training indicates clinical efficacy of NF in children with ADHD. Future studies should further address the specificity of effects and how to optimise the benefit of NF as treatment module for ADHD.

J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2009 Jul;50(7):780-9. Epub 2009 Jan 12. Gevensleben H, Holl B, Albrecht B, Vogel C, Schlamp D, Kratz O, Studer P, Rothenberger A, Moll GH, Heinrich H. Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Göttingen, Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of hypnotherapy on resumption of menstruation in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). DESIGN: Uncontrolled clinical study. SETTING: Academic clinical care center. PATIENT(S): Twelve consecutive women with FHA were selected. INTERVENTION(S): A single 45- to 70-minute session of hypnotherapy was administered, and patients were observed for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Patients were asked whether or not menstruation resumed and whether or not well-being and self-confidence changed. RESULT(S): Within 12 weeks, 9 out of 12 patients (75%) resumed menstruation. All of the patients, including those who did not menstruate, reported several beneficial side effects such as increased general well-being and increased self-confidence. CONCLUSION(S): Hypnotherapy could be an efficacious and time-saving treatment option that also avoids the pitfalls of pharmacological modalities for women with FHA.

Fertil Steril. 2003 Oct;80(4):982-5. Tschugguel W, Berga SL. Division of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria. walter.tschugguel@akh-wien.ac.at

This article describes the experience of a nurse who used music therapy as the intervention to reduce a patient's pain during wound care after orthopedic surgery. The intervention was applied between April 8th and April 29th 2008. The nurse applied Roy's adaptation model as the assessment tool. The major and primary health problem identified was acute pain accelerated by wound care. The pain of this client not only triggered negative feelings, but also affected negatively on his daily life and feelings of self-belongingness. Through an individual-tailored music therapy, the client's pain during wound care was greatly reduced and even completely disappeared. The ultimate outcome of decrease in pain included reductions in negative feelings and increased positive spiritual strength. It is recommended that nurses who are responsible for wound care use this simple and economical music intervention to reduce acute postoperative pain.

Hu Li Za Zhi. 2009 Aug;56(4):105-10. Hsiao TY, Hsieh HF. School of Nursing, Fooyin University, ROC. ns128@mail.fy.edu.tw.

by Mark Gorkin, LICSW

Over lunch, my agent posed a provocative challenge: "Write an article on chutzpah." He believes the timing is right. In this difficult economy and uncertain times it's certainly tempting to withdraw into a shell. But a better strategy might be a contrary one, throwing off the shell and putting yourself out there. One "chutzpah" source involves productively tapping into what I call the "RAGE" in "Out-RAGE-ous." (And these days, there's plenty to be enraged about!) Try harnessing some aggressive energy and attitude – develop an "out of the box" presence if not an edgy essence. (Remember, if you're not living on the edge you are taking up way too much space!)

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Full Title: The Relative Efficacy of Connectivity Guided and Symptom Based EEG Biofeedback for Autistic Disorders

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in communication, social interaction, and a limited range of interests with repetitive stereotypical behavior. Various abnormalities have been documented in the brains of individuals with autism, both anatomically and functionally. The connectivity theory of autism is a recently developed theory of the neurobiological cause of autisic symptoms. Different patterns of hyper- and hypo-connectivity have been identified with the use of quantitative electroencephalogray (QEEG), which may be amenable to neurofeedback. In this study, we compared the results of two published controlled studies examining the efficacy of neurofeedback in the treatment of autism. Specifically, we examined whether a symptom based approach or an assessment/connectivity guided based approach was more effective. Although both methods demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms of autism, connectivity guided neurofeedback demonstrated greater reduction on various subscales of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). Furthermore, when individuals were matched for severity of symptoms, the amount of change per session was significantly higher in the Coben and Padolsky (J Neurother 11:5-23, 2007) study for all five measures of the ATEC. Our findings suggest that an approach guided by QEEG based connectivity assessment may be more efficacious in the treatment of autism. This permits the targeting and amelioration of abnormal connectivity patterns in the brains of people who are autistic.

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2009 Aug 1. Coben R, Myers TE. Neurorehabilitation & Neuropsychological Services, 1035 Park Blvd., Suite 2B, Massapequa Park, NY, 11762, USA, robcoben@optonline.net.

Peter McLaughlin is a Hypnotist certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners and the National Guild of Hypnotists. He was trained by Tim Simmerman and the legendary Gil Boyne in Santa Fe, NM at the American Academy of Hypnotherapy. He has also received training in Neuro-Linguistic Programing from the NLP Training Center in New York City. His training consisted of a variety of techniques and methods including NLP, Regression, Basic and Advanced Suggestion, Gestalt and Ericksonian.

Mr. McLaughlin is licensed by the state of Connecticut as an EMT - Emergency Medical Technician and he volunteers with the Brookfield, CT Headquarters Fire Department as a Firefighter and EMT. Peter resides in Brookfield with his wife and three children.

For more information visit www.bluesky-hypnosis.com.

In this article major ancient Buddhist meditation techniques, samatha, vipassana, Zen, and ton-len, will be described in reference to contemporary clinical hypnosis. In so doing, the Eastern healing framework out of which these techniques emerged is examined in comparison with and in contrast to its Western counterpart. A growing body of empirical literature shows that meditation and hypnosis have many resemblances despite the distinct differences in underlying philosophy and technical methodologies. Although not all meditation techniques "fit" the Western culture, each has much to offer to clinicians who are familiar with hypnosis.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2003 Oct;46(2):97-108. Otani A. University of Maryland Counseling Center, USA. aotani@wam.umd.edu

Full Title: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) detected in a chiropractic office: a case report

OBJECTIVE: To report on a case of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), which is a somewhat rare condition but one that can present in a chiropractic clinic, particularly one with a musculoskeletal scope of practice. CASE: This is a single case report of a 16-year-old adolescent male patient who presented with an 18-month history of hip pain. Radiographs originally ordered by the patient's family physician were read by the medical radiologist as "unremarkable." The family physician diagnosed the patient with tendonitis. TREATMENT: After reviewing the radiographs and examining the patient, the chiropractor suspected a SCFE that was confirmed with a repeat radiographic examination. The patient was referred back to his family physician with a diagnosis of SCFE and recommendation for orthopedic surgical consultation. The patient was subsequently treated successfully with surgical reduction by in situ pinning. CONCLUSION: The prognosis for the SCFE patient when diagnosed early and managed appropriately is good. The consequences of a delay in the diagnosis of SCFE are an increased risk of further slippage and deformity, increased complications such as avascular necrosis and chondrolysis and increased likelihood of degenerative osteoarthritis of the involved hip later in life. The diagnosis and appropriate management of SCFE is where the chiropractor has an important role to play in the management of this condition.

J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2009 Aug;53(3):158-64. Emary P. Private practice: Parkway Back Clinic, 201C Preston Parkway, Cambridge, Ontario, N3H 5E8. E-mail: drpeter@parkwaybackclinic.ca.

by Coach Cary Bayer

There's nothing quite like getting a new client who looks like he might come in for a healing session once every month. It's the kind of good news that qualifies for the proverbial, "Something to write home about." With this in mind, let me ask you a simple question: Do you tell your husband/partner/significant other each time a monthly client decides to book a session in two weeks instead of the usual four? I didn't think so. And yet, the once-a-month client who shifts to twice a month is equivalent to getting a new client who comes in once a month. As far as the bottom line is concerned, it's an identical situation. But you probably don't relate to it that way.

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by Nick Ortner

Are you ready? I hope so, because the one of a kind event that started yesterday (Sunday) is going to change your life…

It's free, it's online, and it's streaming right to your computer...It's the 2010 Tapping World Summit!

If you haven't yet heard about this event or its line up of speakers and amazing topics, then click on this link to learn why you absolutely must attend this event:

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OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD). METHODS: This study compared 30 cases in the acupuncture group with 15 cases in the sham acupuncture group (n = 45 total). The effects of acupuncture were observed on urodynamic measurements, as well as a variety of symptoms associated with DBD. RESULTS: In the acupuncture group, five of the six urodynamic measures (maximal detrusor pressure, bladder compliance, maximal bladder capacity, bladder volume at desire to void and urge to void) demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.05, 0.01) over the 15-day treatment period. Only one measure (bladder volume at urge to void) significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the sham acupuncture group. There were significant differences after therapy in four measures (bladder compliance, maximal bladder capacity, bladder volume at desire to void, and urge to void) between the groups (p < 0.05, 0.01). A significant difference of the changes in symptoms compared with pretreatment in the acupuncture group was observed (p < 0.05, 0.01). In 25 subjects in the acupuncture group, incontinence improved from 2.4 to 1.4. In the sham acupuncture group, incontinence deteriorated from 2.2 to 2.3. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study has provided evidence that acupuncture may be clinically useful for the radical treatment of DBD.

J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Aug;15(8):905-9. Tong Y, Jia Q, Sun Y, Hou Z, Wang Y. Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China. tyq1229@yahoo.com.cn

By Dr. Alexander R. Lees

CSI, CSI Miami, CSI New York, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds and others. Now, why do you suppose I've mentioned these TV shows? There are two reasons: Each commands a phenomenally large viewing audience (CSI is the #1 show on TV), and all of these shows are about science.

To the surprise and delight of many people (probably including the producers of the shows) there are many people that want to know the science behind the scenes. They want to understand what's happening, and once they do, they will more readily accept a new innovation or technique. "It" now makes sense to them.

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Full Title: Storing of qi gong energy in various materials and drugs (qi gongnization): its clinical application for treatment of pain, circulatory disturbance, bacterial or viral infections, heavy metal deposits, and related intractable medical problems by selectively enhancing circulation and drug uptake.

In the process of evaluating the effects of external Qi Gong on inanimate substances by the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test, Qi Gong energy was shown to have a polarity which the author designated for convenience sake (+) or (-), where (+) increases the strength of muscles and (-) weakens them. Depending upon how external Qi Gong is applied and from which part of the body it emanates, the polarity changes. In general, it was found that, when (+) polarity is applied to the painful area or spastic muscles or arteries in vaso-constriction it often reduced or eliminated the pain, spastic muscles or circulatory disturbances. The author succeeded in storing part of the Qi Gong energy in inanimate materials, such as papers, metals (such as a sheet of aluminum foil), glass, stone, band-aids, clothes, drugs, etc. in bi-polar (one end of the same material becomes (+) polarity and the other end of the same material becomes (-) polarity) form in one material or uni-polar, i.e., the entire material either has pure (+) polarity or (-) polarity. Water, EPA, vitamins, antibiotics and other drugs were also converted to (+) polarity. When the material has a bi-polar state, it becomes possible to eliminate one of the polarities by applying certain changing electrical fields. The effect of placing (+) polarity Qi Gong energy stored material was compared with direct application of the Qi Gong on pain, spastic muscle and spastic vertebral arteries. The therapeutic effects of these 2 methods were quite similar for the identical time duration but a more predictable effect was often obtained in the former. As our previous study indicates that acupuncture, electrical stimulation (1-3 pulses/sec.), as well as Qi Gong not only improved the microcirculatory disturbance and relaxed spastic muscles and vaso-constrictive arteries but also reduced or eliminated the pain and also selectively enhanced drug uptake to the area where drugs could not be delivered due to existing circulatory disturbances, by placing (+) Qi Gong stored material, such as a sheet of paper or aluminum foil, band-aid or clothes. Bi- Digital O-Ring Test evaluation indicated that not only did it produce all the beneficial effects of Qi Gong but also enhanced the drug uptake selectively in the area where it is necessary for the drug to be delivered for effective treatment, and reduced lead deposits in tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acupunct Electrother Res. 1990;15(2):137-57. Omura Y. Heart Disease Research Foundation, New York, N.Y.

Crown House Publishing Co. LLC, Wales Copyright, 2009

Reviewed by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

As a hypnotherapist, I was intrigued by this small book focusing solely on hypnotic inductions. In Techniques of Hypnotic Induction, psychotherapist George Gafner, brings over 30 years of experience to bear, teaching hypnotherapists how to communicate with the unconscious mind skillfully, through story-telling inductions.

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Full Title: Cognitive behavioral management of Tourette's syndrome and chronic tic disorder in medicated and unmedicated samples

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and medication can be administered in combination in treating tic disorders but there are no studies evaluating the effectiveness of CBT with and without medication. The current study compares the efficacy of CBT in combination with medication and without medication. METHOD: CBT was administered in a consecutively referred sample of 76 people diagnosed either with Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome or chronic tic disorder. The sample was divided into a medicated and a non-medicated group. Twenty three were stabilized on medication and 53 were not receiving medication. Measures administered pre- and post-CBT in both groups included: main outcome measure of Tourette Syndrome Global Scale and measures of mood. RESULTS: Repeated measures analysis of variance on the initial sample revealed no difference between medicated and non-medicated groups in outcome. A further analysis comparing the 23 receiving medication with 23 not receiving medication matched on baseline clinical variables also yielded no significant group differences, either in treatment outcome on main tic outcome measures or on other clinically relevant questionnaires. DISCUSSION: CBT for tic disorders is an effective treatment administered either in combination with medication or alone.

Behav Res Ther. 2009 Aug 5. O'Connor KP, Laverdure A, Taillon A, Stip E, Borgeat F, Lavoie M. Fernand-Seguin Research Centre, Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital 7331 Hochelaga St. Montreal (Quebec) H1N 3V2 Canada.

Lisa Zaccheo is one of the few Board Certified Hypnotists in New England. In addition, she is certified in advanced clinical hypnosis, regression, complimentary medical, child & adolescent and forensic hypnosis by the National Guild of Hypnotists. She is also certified by the National Board of Hypnotists and is a member of the National Federation of Hypnotists. She earned a B.S. in psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and has successfully worked with thousands of clients, both adults and children, on a myriad of issues.

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In the present study, we propose a neurofeedback-based motor imagery training system for EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI). The proposed system can help individuals get the feel of motor imagery by presenting them with real-time brain activation maps on their cortex. Ten healthy participants took part in our experiment, half of whom were trained by the suggested training system and the others did not use any training. All participants in the trained group succeeded in performing motor imagery after a series of trials to activate their motor cortex without any physical movements of their limbs. To confirm the effect of the suggested system, we recorded EEG signals for the trained group around sensorimotor cortex while they were imagining either left or right hand movements according to our experimental design, before and after the motor imagery training. For the control group, we also recorded EEG signals twice without any training sessions. The participants' intentions were then classified using a time-frequency analysis technique, and the results of the trained group showed significant differences in the sensorimotor rhythms between the signals recorded before and after training. Classification accuracy was also enhanced considerably in all participants after motor imagery training, compared to the accuracy before training. On the other hand, the analysis results for the control EEG data set did not show consistent increment in both the number of meaningful time-frequency combinations and the classification accuracy, demonstrating that the suggested system can be used as a tool for training motor imagery tasks in BCI applications. Further, we expect that the motor imagery training system will be useful not only for BCI applications, but for functional brain mapping studies that utilize motor imagery tasks as well.

J Neurosci Methods. 2009 Apr 30;179(1):150-6. Epub 2009 Jan 29. Hwang HJ, Kwon K, Im CH. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju-si, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea.

by Tim Brunson, PhD

There is often a conflict in therapy between conformity and effectiveness. The desire to "do no harm", to remain within the scope of practice, and to comply with ethical and boundary requirements result in a hesitancy to explore alternatives that may be in the patient or client's best interest. While I would never question the compassionate intention of such limitations, they may very well present a stultifying effect on the potential benefits of therapeutic interventions. My intent here is to explore the appropriate balance between risk-taking and caution both in the intellectual development of our professions as well as regarding practical applications with subjects.

Most certainly I would be the first to admit that risk-taking is allowed within the established and accepted rules. Clinicians have license to try a variety of approved techniques. Clinton Clay, LCSW, who was one of my first NLP instructors, impressed upon me the necessity of having a collection of optional techniques – meaning that there is no one solution to everyone's concerns. Indeed, even Milton H. Erickson, MD, preached that psychiatrists should approach their practices as somewhat of an art rather than being confined by a particular school of thought. Nevertheless, when looked at with historical perspective, risky protocols are frequently viewed later as barbaric – such as frontal lobotomies and many of the methods that were once common in self-styled modern asylums. This leaves me to conclude that several of the current methods may also eventually be considered cruel and ineffective by the practitioners only a few decades from now.

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Full Title: Functional Neuroanatomy and the Rationale for Using EEG Biofeedback for Clients with Asperger's Syndrome

This paper reviews the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome (AS), a disorder along the autism continuum, and highlights research findings with an emphasis on brain differences. Existing theories concerning AS are described, including theory of mind (Hill and Frith in Phil Trans Royal Soc Lond, Bull 358:281-289, 2003), mirror neuron system (Ramachandran and Oberman in Sci Am 295(5):62-69, 2006), and Porges' (Ann N Y Acad Sci 1008:31-47, 2003, The neurobiology of autism, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2004) polyvagal theory. (A second paper, Outcomes using EEG Biofeedback Training in Clients with Asperger's Syndrome, summarizes clinical outcomes obtained with more than 150 clients.) Patterns seen with QEEG assessment are then presented. Single channel assessment at the vertex (CZ) reveals patterns similar to those found in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Using 19-channel data, significant differences (z-scores > 2) were found in the amplitude of both slow waves (excess theta and/or alpha) and fast waves (beta) at various locations. Differences from the norm were most often found in mirror neuron areas (frontal, temporal and temporal-parietal). There were also differences in coherence patterns, as compared to a normative database (Neuroguide). Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography Analysis (Pascual-Marqui et al. in Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 24C:91-95, 2002) suggested the source of the abnormal activity was most often the anterior cingulate. Other areas involved included the amygdala, uncus, insula, hippocampal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and the orbito-frontal and/or ventromedial areas of the prefrontal cortex. Correspondence between symptoms and the functions of the areas found to have abnormalities is evident and those observations are used to develop a rationale for using EEG biofeedback, called neurofeedback (NFB), intervention. NFB training is targeted to improve symptoms that include difficulty reading and mirroring emotions, poor attention to the outside world, poor self-regulation skills, and anxiety. Porges' polyvagal theory is used to emphasize the need to integrate NFB with biofeedback (BFB), particularly heart rate variability training. We term this emerging understanding the Systems Theory of Neural Synergy. The name underscores the fact that NFB and BFB influence dynamic circuits and emphasizes that, no matter where we enter the nervous system with an intervention, it will seek its own new balance and equilibrium.

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2009 Jul 1. Thompson L, Thompson M, Reid A. ADD Centre, 50 Village Centre Place, Mississauga, ON, L4Z 1V9, Canada, addcentre@gmail.com.

Two aspects of Buddhist meditation--concentration and mindfulness--are discussed in relationship to hypnosis. Mindfulness training facilitates the investigation of subjective responses to hypnosis. Concentration practice leads to altered states similar to those in hypnosis, both phenomenologically and neurologically. The similarities and differences between hypnosis and meditation are used to shed light on perennial questions: (1) Does hypnosis involve an altered state of consciousness? (2) Does a hypnotic induction increase suggestibility? I conclude that a model for hypnosis should include altered states as well as capacity for imaginative involvement and expectations.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2003 Oct;46(2):109-28. Holroyd J. University of California, Los Angeles, USA. holroyd@ucla.edu

Three pediatric cases of Trichotillomania were treated with direct hypnotic suggestion with exclusive emphasis on sensitizing and alerting the patients to impending scalp hair pulling behaviors. These children had presented with total lack of awareness of their scalp hair pulling behaviors until they had actually twisted and pulled off clumps of hair. It was also suggested, under hypnosis, that upon learning to recognize impending scalp hair pulling behaviors, the patients would become free to choose to willfully pull their hair or to resist the impulse and not pull. At no point was the explicit suggestion given that they stop pulling their hair. A preliminary condition was agreed to by the parents that redefined the patients' hair as their own property and affirmed their sole responsibility for its care and maintenance. An element of secondary gain was identified in each of these cases. Scalp hair pulling was hypothesized to provide these particular patients with a vehicle with which to oppose their overbearing and over-involved parents. The technique of direct suggestion under hypnosis, aimed at alerting the patients to impending scalp hair pulling behaviors was combined with forming contracts with the parents to relinquish their authority over matters regarding the patients' hair. This combination provided an effective treatment that extinguished the scalp hair pulling in 7 visits or less. These cases received follow-up at intervals up to 6 months and no evidence of relapse was found.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2003 Oct;46(2):129-37. Iglesias A.

by Bernie Siegel, MD

The key to life in all its forms is its ability to communicate. This includes the ability of complex organisms like ourselves to communicate with each other but more importantly within ourselves, our individual organs and cells. How do animals communicate without words? Studies show they can count and make intelligent choices when given options yet we do not know how they are able to reason and communicate without using words.

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Interventions for improvement of cognitive problems in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) include electroencephalography biofeedback, also known as neurofeedback. Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) patterns are assessed in TBI patients and then compared to a database obtained from a normative population. Deviations in QEEG patterns from the normative group are the basis for an intervention plan. While QEEG patterns, obtained under an eyes closed, resting condition, provide information about deviations at rest, QEEG patterns obtained while the patient engages in cognitive tasks reflect specific deficiencies in brain functioning. This paper reviews and assesses QEEG patterns collected under both resting conditions as well as cognitive tasks. The article provides a theoretical and empirical base for QEEG interventions with TBI.

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2009 Mar;34(1):59-68. Epub 2009 Feb 6. Thornton KE, Carmody DP. Brain Foundation, 2 Ethel Road, Edison, NJ 08817, USA. ket@chp-neurotherapy.com

Carmen Lynne has been helping clients for a number of years using a combination of hypnotherapy, guided imagery, neurolinguistic programming and cognitive behavioral therapy. She specializes in chronic pain, addictions and trauma. She can also help you with anxiety, stress, weight management, fears and phobias, relationship issues and many other problems that people face. She is a natural and empathetic healer with a creative approach to therapy based on her years as a creative artist (writer, actress, singer, dancer). Other healing modalities she incorporates into sessions on an as-needed basis are dreams analysis; handwriting analysis and numerology.

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In this study, Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility: Form A scores for 458 college students were compared with college yearbook records of their participation in student activities. Students who scored low in susceptibility showed significantly less participation in activities than others who were either moderate or high in susceptibility. Overall, females showed higher levels of participation than males, but there was no significant interaction between gender and hypnotic susceptibility. Spectral analysis showed participation scores to be somewhat more strongly related to easier HGSHS:A items than to more difficult items in the manner predicted by two-factor theory. Closer examination of the results revealed that this effect was primarily due to the fact that low susceptible subjects participated significantly less in student activities than subjects who were either moderate or high in hypnotic susceptibility. The results suggest that future research should further examine the unique contribution of low susceptibility subjects to hypnosis theory and research.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2003 Oct;46(2):139-45. Graham KR, Marra LC, Rudski JM. Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. krg6543@aol.com

Full Title: Pilot study of the effect of a limited and extended course of chiropractic care on balance, chronic pain, and dizziness in older adults

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to collect preliminary information on the effect of a limited and extended course of chiropractic care on balance, chronic pain, and associated dizziness in a sample of older adults with impaired balance. METHODS: The authors conducted a randomized pilot study targeting a sample size of 30, comparing 2 schedules of chiropractic care to a no-treatment group. Group 1 (limited schedule) was treated for 8 weeks, group 2 (extended schedule) was treated for 8 weeks and then once per month for 10 months, and group 3 received no treatment. Assessments were made at baseline and 1, 2, 6, and 12 months later. The primary outcome was changed in the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) from baseline to 1 year. Changes in the Pain Disability Index and Dizziness Handicap Index were also measured. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were enrolled, 13 in group 1, 15 in group 2, and 6 in group 3. Only 5 had baseline BBS scores less than 45, indicating increased risk for falls. There were no treatment-related adverse events. Nine patients dropped out by 1 year. No significant differences within or between groups in median BBS from baseline to 12 months were observed. Median Pain Disability Index scores improved more from baseline to 1 year in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3 (P = .06, Kruskal-Wallis test). For the 9 patients with dizziness, a clinically significant improvement in Dizziness Handicap Index scores of groups 1 and 2 was observed at 1 month and remained lower than baseline thereafter; this was not true of group 3. CONCLUSION: Further investigation of the possible benefit of chiropractic maintenance care (extended schedule) for balance and pain-related disability is feasible and warranted, as well as both limited and extended schedules for patients with idiopathic dizziness.

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Jul-Aug;32(6):438-47. Hawk C, Cambron JA, Pfefer MT. Cleveland Chiropractic College, Kansas City, Mo, USA. cheryl.hawk@cleveland.edu

by Sam Slay

Are you too busy living to create a life? Are you too busy working to create a career? Are you too busy managing rather than becoming a business leader? Are you just too busy because being busy is the only thing you know how to do?

Did you know that Warren Buffet only works three hours a day? Obviously someone with his wealth doesn't have to work at all. How do you think people like him got that way? I assure you they didn't get that way by being too busy to create the life they wanted. They set a side time to plan and balance their life beyond showing up day after day performing the same tasks and maintaining the status quo. They made plans, and weren't afraid to change to achieve their goals.

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Full Title: Evaluation of manual acupuncture at classical and nondefined points for treatment of functional dyspepsia: a randomized-controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Acupuncture has been used traditionally as a treatment for functional dyspepsia (FD). The goal of this trial was to examine the efficacy of acupuncture at classical points and nondefined points as a treatment for functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Sixty-eight (68) patients with functional dyspepsia, as defined by Rome-II criteria, were randomized into two groups: classical six-point acupuncture and nondefined-point acupuncture. Acupuncture was conducted three times per week for 2 weeks in a single-blind setting. To assess the effects of acupuncture, symptoms and quality of life were scored according to the Nepean Dyspepsia Index before and after acupuncture treatments. RESULTS: Acupuncture treatment significantly decreased the dyspepsia symptoms and improved the quality of life. There was no statistical difference between the acupuncture groups treated at classical and nondefined points. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that both acupunctures at classical points and nondefined points improved the symptoms of patients with FD. However, we cannot rule out the possibilities of placebo effect in this trial.

J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Aug;15(8):879-84. Park YC, Kang W, Choi SM, Son CG. Department of Internal Medicine, Oriental Medical College of Daejeon University, Daejeon, South Korea.

by Nick Ortner

Announcing an amazing online event that last year had over 81,000 people in attendance. And what is also amazing is that it is offered to the public at no charge.

The event is called the Tapping World Summit. If you've never heard of Tapping before, you're going to be blown away at how powerful it is.

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"Qi Gong" (QG) is a meditation exercise known for thousands of years in China and has always been widely practiced. It has been claimed to have a variety of healing and other health benefits. To provide an understanding of the effect of QG on brain structures along the whole neural axis from the periphery to the cerebral cortex, we have monitored short-latency auditory brainstem evoked response, middle-latency response, and long-latency cortical auditory evoked potentials, before, during, and after QG. Our results showed that QG caused an enhancement of brainstem auditory evoked response with a concomitant depression of cortical responses. These observations may be related to the healing and other health benefits of QG.

Am J Chin Med. 1990;18(3-4):95-103. Liu GL, Cui RQ, Li GZ, Huang CM. Department of Physiology, Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.

Full Title: Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized, controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: While several studies have shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficacious treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, few studies have addressed the outcome of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy, even though this treatment is widely used. The aim of this study was to compare short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and CBT with regard to treatment outcome in generalized anxiety disorder. METHOD: Patients with generalized anxiety disorder according to DSM-IV were randomly assigned to receive either CBT (N=29) or short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (N=28). Treatments were carried out according to treatment manuals and included up to 30 weekly sessions. The primary outcome measure was the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, which was applied by trained raters blind to the treatment conditions. Assessments were carried out at the completion of treatment and 6 months afterward. RESULTS: Both CBT and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy yielded significant, large, and stable improvements with regard to symptoms of anxiety and depression. No significant differences in outcome were found between treatments in regard to the primary outcome measure. These results were corroborated by two self-report measures of anxiety. In measures of trait anxiety, worry, and depression, however, CBT was found to be superior. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that CBT and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy are beneficial for patients with generalized anxiety disorder. In future research, large-scale multicenter studies should examine more subtle differences between treatments, including differences in the patients who benefit most from each form of therapy.

Am J Psychiatry. 2009 Aug;166(8):875-81. Epub 2009 Jul 1. Leichsenring F, Salzer S, Jaeger U, Kächele H, Kreische R, Leweke F, Rüger U, Winkelbach C, Leibing E. Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany. falk.leichsenring@psycho.med.uni-giessen.de

Mark Avnet is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners and the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Mr. Avnet trained with world-renowned hypnotherapist and educator Tim Simmerman at The Hypnotherapy Academy of America, with the legendary Gil Boyne, pioneer of 20th century hypnotherapy, and with Paul Durbin, Director of Clinical Hypnotherapy at Methodist Health System Foundation/Methodist Hospital.

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Full Title: A theory of alpha/theta neurofeedback, creative performance enhancement, long distance functional connectivity and psychological integration

Professionally significant enhancement of music and dance performance and mood has followed training with an EEG-neurofeedback protocol which increases the ratio of theta to alpha waves using auditory feedback with eyes closed. While originally the protocol was designed to induce hypnogogia, a state historically associated with creativity, the outcome was psychological integration, while subsequent applications focusing on raising the theta-alpha ratio, reduced depression and anxiety in alcoholism and resolved post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). In optimal performance studies we confirmed associations with creativity in musical performance, but effects also included technique and communication. We extended efficacy to dance and social anxiety. Diversity of outcome has a counterpart in wide ranging associations between theta oscillations and behaviour in cognitive and affective neuroscience: in animals with sensory-motor activity in exploration, effort, working memory, learning, retention and REM sleep; in man with meditative concentration, reduced anxiety and sympathetic autonomic activation, as well as task demands in virtual spatial navigation, focussed and sustained attention, working and recognition memory, and having implications for synaptic plasticity and long term potentiation. Neuroanatomical circuitry involves the ascending mescencephalic-cortical arousal system, and limbic circuits subserving cognitive as well as affective/motivational functions. Working memory and meditative bliss, representing cognitive and affective domains, respectively, involve coupling between frontal and posterior cortices, exemplify a role for theta and alpha waves in mediating the interaction between distal and widely distributed connections. It is posited that this mediation in part underpins the integrational attributes of alpha-theta training in optimal performance and psychotherapy, creative associations in hypnogogia, and enhancement of technical, communication and artistic domains of performance in the arts.

Cogn Process. 2009 Feb;10 Suppl 1:S101-9. Epub 2008 Dec 11. Gruzelier J. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, Lewisham Way, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK. j.gruzelier@gold.ac.uk

Full Title: Emotional, motivational and interpersonal responsiveness of children with autism in improvisational music therapy

Through behavioural analysis, this study investigated the social-motivational aspects of musical interaction between the child and the therapist in improvisational music therapy by measuring emotional, motivational and interpersonal responsiveness in children with autism during joint engagement episodes. The randomized controlled study (n = 10) employed a single subject comparison design in two different conditions, improvisational music therapy and toy play sessions, and DVD analysis of sessions. Improvisational music therapy produced markedly more and longer events of 'joy', 'emotional synchronicity' and 'initiation of engagement' behaviours in the children than toy play sessions. In response to the therapist's interpersonal demands, 'compliant (positive) responses' were observed more in music therapy than in toy play sessions, and 'no responses' were twice as frequent in toy play sessions as in music therapy. The results of this exploratory study found significant evidence supporting the value of music therapy in promoting social, emotional and motivational development in children with autism.

Autism. 2009 Jul;13(4):389-409. Kim J, Wigram T, Gold C. Department of Arts Therapy, College of Alternative Medicine, Jeonju University, Korea. jinahkim@jj.ac.kr

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is now good evidence from several sources that hypnotherapy can relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in the short term. However, there is no long term data on its benefits and this information is essential before the technique can be widely recommended. This study aimed to answer this question. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 204 patients prospectively completed questionnaires scoring symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression before, immediately after, and up to six years following hypnotherapy. All subjects also subjectively assessed the effects of hypnotherapy retrospectively in order to define their "responder status". RESULTS: 71% of patients initially responded to therapy. Of these, 81% maintained their improvement over time while the majority of the remaining 19% claimed that deterioration of symptoms had only been slight. With respect to symptom scores, all items at follow up were significantly improved on pre-hypnotherapy levels (p<0.001) and showed little change from post-hypnotherapy values. There were no significant differences in the symptom scores between patients assessed at 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5+ years following treatment. Quality of life and anxiety or depression scores were similarly still significantly improved at follow up (p<0.001) but did show some deterioration. Patients also reported a reduction in consultation rates and medication use following the completion of hypnotherapy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy appear to last at least five years. Thus it is a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Gut. 2003 Nov;52(11):1623-9. Gonsalkorale WM, Miller V, Afzal A, Whorwell PJ. Department of Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK. wgonsalkorale@compuserve.com

by Debra Burdick, LCSW

It is always exciting to see how current brain research and brain imaging techniques prove why psychological and spiritual techniques work in our lives. It turns out that our brains don't really know the difference between whether something is actually happening in our lives or whether we are only imagining it in our minds. When athletes are hooked up to brain monitoring equipment and asked to imagine they are performing their sport, their brainwaves fire the same as if they were actually doing their sport. Pianists who imagine playing the piano and rehearsing a piece in their minds play it better when they perform it.

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