A certified hypnotherapist and freelance writer, Bonnie specializes in empowerment coaching. Her work has been published by the director of clinical hypnotherapy at Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital in New Orleans, and appears in "The Obvious Expert," by Elsom Eldridge, Jr., and "J'Adore Magazine." Her seminars have been featured at Marietta City Schools, Borders Books, The Knowledge Shop and Greater Atlanta Hadassah Health Professionals Council. In addition, she is voice over artist, www.bonniemoret.com.

Visit Bonnie's blog at bisforbonnie.blogspot.com.

Full Title: Differential patterns of spontaneous experiential response to a hypnotic induction: A latent profile analysis

A hypnotic induction produces different patterns of spontaneous experiences across individuals. The magnitude and characteristics of these responses covary moderately with hypnotic suggestibility, but also differ within levels of hypnotic suggestibility. This study sought to identify discrete phenomenological profiles in response to a hypnotic induction and assess whether experiential variability among highly suggestible individuals matches the phenomenological profiles predicted by dissociative typological models of high hypnotic suggestibility. Phenomenological state scores indexed in reference to a resting epoch during hypnosis were submitted to a latent profile analysis. The profiles in the derived four-class solution differed in multiple experiential dimensions and hypnotic suggestibility. Highly suggestible individuals were distributed across two classes that exhibited response patterns suggesting an inward attention subtype and a dissociative subtype. These results provide support for dissociative typological models of high hypnotic suggestibility and indicate that highly suggestible individuals do not display a uniform response to a hypnotic induction. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Conscious Cogn. 2010 Apr 13. Terhune DB, Cardeña E. Department of Psychology, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden.

Full Title: Comparison between massage and music therapies to relieve the severity of labor pain

BACKGROUND: During labor, women experience a high level of intense, stressful and steady pain that may negatively affect both mothers and neonates. Painkillers have previously been used for childbearing women, but nowadays, owing to some well-known limitations and serious side effects, nonpharmacologic methods such as massage and music therapies are being broadly recommended. The present clinical trial was conducted to compare the effects of massage and music therapies on the severity of labor pain in the Ilam province of western Iran. MATERIALS & METHODS: Overall, 101 primigravidae who were hospitalized for vaginal delivery were recruited and randomly stratified into two groups of either massage (n = 51) or music (n = 50) therapies. Pain was measured using the visual analog scale and the two groups were compared in terms of pain severity before and after the interventions. RESULTS: Mothers in the massage therapy group had a lower level of pain compared with those in the music therapy group (p = 0.009). A significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of pain severity after intervention (p = 0.01). Agonizing, or most severe, labor pain was significantly relieved after massage therapy (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Massage therapy was an effective method for reducing and relieving labor pain compared with music therapy and can be clinically recommended as an alternative, safe and affordable method of pain relief where using either pharmacological or nonpharmacological methods are optional.

Womens Health (Lond Engl). 2010 May;6(3):377-81. Taghinejad H, Delpisheh A, Suhrabi Z. Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.

by Sam Slay

1. Stakeholder Surveys - You must determine a base line for your employees. You should conduct a series of surveys designed to find out what your employees know, what they don't know and what they think they know. First, do they understand the true mission of your organization? If you think so then think again, because making money is not the mission.

[More]

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the importance of non-pharmacological therapies for dementia has come to the fore. In the present study, we examined the curative effects of aromatherapy in dementia in 28 elderly people, 17 of whom had Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: After a control period of 28 days, aromatherapy was performed over the following 28 days, with a wash out period of another 28 days. Aromatherapy consisted of the use of rosemary and lemon essential oils in the morning, and lavender and orange in the evening. To determine the effects of aromatherapy, patients were evaluated using the Japanese version of the Gottfries, Brane, Steen scale (GBSS-J), Functional Assessment Staging of Alzheimer's disease (FAST), a revised version of Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS-R), and the Touch Panel-type Dementia Assessment Scale (TDAS) four times: before the control period, after the control period, after aromatherapy, and after the washout period. RESULTS: All patients showed significant improvement in personal orientation related to cognitive function on both the GBSS-J and TDAS after therapy. In particular, patients with AD showed significant improvement in total TDAS scores. Result of routine laboratory tests showed no significant changes, suggesting that there were no side-effects associated with the use of aromatherapy. Results from Zarit's score showed no significant changes, suggesting that caregivers had no effect on the improved patient scores seen in the other tests. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we found aromatherapy an efficacious non-pharmacological therapy for dementia. Aromatherapy may have some potential for improving cognitive function, especially in AD patients.

Psychogeriatrics. 2009 Dec;9(4):173-9. Jimbo D, Kimura Y, Taniguchi M, Inoue M, Urakami K. Department of Biological Regulation, School of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.

by Michael Licenblat

A few years ago, I remember was watching my two sons playing. At the time, Raphael was 2½ years old and was focused on putting together his favourite jigsaw. Zackary was 1 year old and was studying a plastic ring that had a soft toy hanging off it. They were in the same spot for over 15 minutes totally absorbed in their play.

I thought to myself... 'When was the last time I was 100% totally absorbed in the non-work aspect of my life? How many moments have I missed in my life because I was rushing to get things done, being busy, or thinking about something else?'

[More]

Full Title: Music's relevance for pediatric cancer patients: a constructivist and mosaic research approach

PURPOSE: Music is important in most children's lives. To advance efficacious pediatric supportive care, it is necessary to understand young cancer patients' thoughts about music. Concern about inviting unwell children to express opinions has resulted in scant research examining their views. "Mosaic" research examines children's experiences through investigating multiple perspectives which inform a "co-constructed meaning." This study examines pediatric cancer patients' and their parents' perspectives about music and music therapy's role in the children's lives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children were receiving care at three hospitals with the Paediatric Integrative Cancer Service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. A constructivist research approach with grounded theory design was applied. Children up to 14 years old with cancer and parents participated. Data included transcripts from semi-structured research interviews and observations of children's music behaviors. Qualitative inter-rater reliability was integrated. Findings were compared with music therapists' perspectives examined elsewhere. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with 26 patients, median age 5.7 years, and 28 parents. Data "saturation" was achieved. A substantive grounded theory emerged: Children's adverse cancer experiences are often alleviated by music usages. Broader family, social, and electronic musical interactions also promote children's resilience and "normal" development. Music therapy and associated programs often, but not always, alleviate children's distress. Positive effects may carry over into children's home lives and vicariously support families. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals should consider ways to assist parents who are often using music to support children with cancer. Hospitals can promote pediatric cancer patients' resilience by providing music-based support services, including music therapy, and reducing unwanted stressful sounds.

Support Care Cancer. 2010 Apr 28. O'Callaghan C, Baron A, Barry P, Dun B. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, clare.ocallaghan@petermac.org.

Self Hypnosis: This tutorial teaches you how to hypnotise yourself. It's a proven and simple hypnosis session that you can learn and adapt to your own 'self hypnosis' process.

For more information visit www.vancouverhypnotherapy.org.

Full Title: Use and acceptability of unsupported online computerized cognitive behavioral therapy for depression and associations with clinical outcome

BACKGROUND: In a recent randomized trial, we were unable to confirm the previously reported high effectiveness of CCBT. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to have a closer look at usage and acceptability (i.e. expectancy, credibility, and satisfaction) of the intervention. METHODS: Depressed participants (N=200) were given login codes for unsupported online CCBT. A track-and-trace system tracked which components were used. We used a 9-month follow-up period. RESULTS: Uptake was sufficient, but dropout was high. Many usage indices were positively associated with short-term depressive improvement, whereas only homework was related to long-term improvement. Acceptability was good and expectancy could predict long-term, but not short-term outcome. LIMITATIONS: Associations between use of CCBT and improvement are merely correlational. Our sample was too depressed in relation to the scope of the intervention. We relied on online self-report measures. Analyses were exploratory in nature. CONCLUSIONS: Although CCBT might be a feasible and acceptable treatment for depression, means to improve treatment adherence are needed for moderately to severely depressed individuals.

J Affect Disord. 2009 Aug;116(3):227-31. Epub 2009 Jan 22. de Graaf LE, Huibers MJ, Riper H, Gerhards SA, Arntz A. Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. E.deGraaf@dmkep.unimaas.nl

Katherine Zimmerman is an internationally-known author and speaker, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master, and EFT Trainer with a private practice. Since 1989, she has taught classes on self-hypnosis, EFT, and other related subjects, along with doing presentations on hypnotherapy at professional conferences nationwide.

[More]

Full Title: Acupuncture management of pain and emergence agitation in children after bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion

Summary Aim: To further investigate the effect of acupuncture in postoperative pain and emergence agitation in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube (BMT) placement. Background: BMT insertion surgery in children is routinely performed under general anesthesia and is associated with a high incidence of postoperative pain and agitation upon emergence from anesthesia. Various medications have been investigated to alleviate the pain and agitation, which have been accompanied by high incidence of adverse effects. In children, anecdotal reports suggest that acupuncture may offer postoperative analgesia. Methods/Materials: This prospective randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture to control pain and agitation after initial bilateral myringotomy tube placement in 60 nonpremedicated children. Acupuncture was applied at points LI-4 (he gu) and HT-7 (shen men) immediately after induction of anesthesia. A single-blinded assessor evaluated postoperative pain and agitation using CHEOPS and emergence agitation scale. Pain and agitation scores were significantly lower in the acupuncture group compared to those in the control group at the time of arrival in the post anesthesia care unit and during the subsequent 30 min. Results: Acupuncture treatment provided significant benefit in pain and agitation reduction. The median time to first postoperative analgesic (acetaminophen) administration was significantly shorter in the control group. The number of patients who required analgesia was considerably fewer in the acupuncture group than that in the control. No adverse effects related to acupuncture treatment were observed. Conclusion: Our study suggests that acupuncture therapy may be effective in diminishing both pain and emergence agitation in children after BMT insertion without adverse effects.

Paediatr Anaesth. 2009 Aug 26. Lin YC, Tassone RF, Jahng S, Rahbar R, Holzman RS, Zurakowski D, Sethna NF. Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Full Title: An exploratory mixed-method study to determine factors that may affect satisfaction levels of athletes receiving chiropractic care in a nonclinic setting

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine factors that may affect satisfaction levels of participants in a nonclinic (sport) setting through participant observation and participation. Factors associated with general satisfaction (observed) were determined along with a participant demographic profile, participant knowledge about chiropractic, and satisfaction with treatment received from a chiropractic student. Thereafter, the relationships between the demographic factors, participant knowledge, and participant general satisfaction were determined. Lastly, factors affecting satisfaction levels were compared between the participants and the observers. METHODS: An exploratory mixed-method observational study that compared results reported by 30 participants and 2 observers, regarding the treatment process, by completion of a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical significance was set at P less than or equal to .05. RESULTS: Of the 30 participants, 83.3% were South African, 90% were white, and 63.3% were male, with a mean age of 35.6 years, who reported they were very satisfied with chiropractic care (P = .229). The only factor to produce a significant difference between participants and observers was communication (P = .082 with Spearman = .332). CONCLUSION: In this study, communication had the greatest impact; therefore, it is suggested that positive verbal and nonverbal communication be emphasized in the training of future chiropractic professionals.

J Chiropr Med. 2009 Jun;8(2):62-71. Talmage G, Korporaal C, Brantingham JW. Lecturer, Department Chiropractic and Somatology, DUT, PO Box 1334, Durban 4001, South Africa (RSA).

Full Title: Differential patterns of spontaneous experiential response to a hypnotic induction: A latent profile analysis

A hypnotic induction produces different patterns of spontaneous experiences across individuals. The magnitude and characteristics of these responses covary moderately with hypnotic suggestibility, but also differ within levels of hypnotic suggestibility. This study sought to identify discrete phenomenological profiles in response to a hypnotic induction and assess whether experiential variability among highly suggestible individuals matches the phenomenological profiles predicted by dissociative typological models of high hypnotic suggestibility. Phenomenological state scores indexed in reference to a resting epoch during hypnosis were submitted to a latent profile analysis. The profiles in the derived four-class solution differed in multiple experiential dimensions and hypnotic suggestibility. Highly suggestible individuals were distributed across two classes that exhibited response patterns suggesting an inward attention subtype and a dissociative subtype. These results provide support for dissociative typological models of high hypnotic suggestibility and indicate that highly suggestible individuals do not display a uniform response to a hypnotic induction.

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Terhune DB, Cardeña E. Department of Psychology, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden.

by Alfred A Barrios, PhD

Part I of this article may be found here.

Hypnotizability of Patients

Freud abandoned hypnosis because of "the small number of people who could be put into a deep state of hypnosis" at that time and because in the cathartic approach, symptoms would disappear at first, but reappear later if the patient-therapist relationship were disturbed (Freud, 1955, p. 237). In the above studies the only hypnotic induction failures were reported by Chong Tong Mun (eight failures out of 108 patients.) This can mean one of two things: the hypnotic induction procedures have improved since Freud's day, or that the reconditioning approach used in these studies (as opposed to Freud's cathartic approach) does not require very deep levels of hypnosis. There is evidence that both factors may be involved.

[More]

Full Title: Effects of relaxation on psychobiological wellbeing during pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial

Prenatal maternal stress is associated with adverse birth outcomes and may be reduced by relaxation exercises. The aim of the present study was to compare the immediate effects of two active and one passive 10-min relaxation technique on perceived and physiological indicators of relaxation. 39 healthy pregnant women recruited at the outpatient department of the University Women's Hospital Basel participated in a randomized controlled trial with an experimental repeated measure design. Participants were assigned to one of two active relaxation techniques, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) or guided imagery (GI), or a passive relaxation control condition. Self-reported relaxation on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and state anxiety (STAI-S), endocrine parameters indicating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (cortisol and ACTH) and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system activity (norepinephrine and epinephrine), as well as cardiovascular responses (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were measured at four time points before and after the relaxation exercise. Between group differences showed, that compared to the PMR and control conditions, GI was significantly more effective in enhancing levels of relaxation and together with PMR, GI was associated with a significant decrease in heart rate. Within the groups, passive as well as active relaxation procedures were associated with a decline in endocrine measures except epinephrine. Taken together, these data indicate that different types of relaxation had differential effects on various psychological and biological stress systems. GI was especially effective in inducing self-reported relaxation in pregnant women while at the same time reducing cardiovascular activity.

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Urech C, Fink NS, Hoesli I, Wilhelm FH, Bitzer J, Alder J. University Hospital Basel, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Switzerland.

Jef Gazley, M.S., LMFT, LPC, LISAC, DCC has practiced hypnosis and counseling for over thirty-five years and is the owner operator of www.asktheinternettherapist.com since 1998 and www.hypnosistapes4health.com since 2004. He is the author of thirteen mental health educational videos and mental health DVDs, numerous hypnosis tapes and hypnosis CDs, and is currently writing a book on Distance Counseling and another book on Tri-Brain Trauma Therapy, which is the theory he has developed.

[More]

Smoking (tobacco addiction) is the most significant of the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Mistakenly described as a "habit" or "behavioral choice," the onset of tobacco addiction quickly follows the acquisition of an ability to inhale cigarette smoke and is reflected in a transformation of neurophysiologic function and nicotine-receptor density. Thereafter, comfort and a degree of neurophysiologic "equanimity" require the regular administration of nicotine. Smokers inhale thousands of other chemicals, many of which play critical roles in the initiation and accentuation of atherosclerosis by influencing vasomotor activity, vascular dysfunction, oxidation of lipids, atheroma development, and thrombosis. Smoking cessation is a priority in the management of any patient with cardiovascular disease. The benefits of cessation accrue rapidly in such patients and have a pronounced effect on the likelihood of disease progression, hospital readmission, and mortality. All physicians must be familiar with the principles of cessation practice and be able to initiate smoking cessation attempts.

Pipe AL, Papadakis S, Reid RD. Minto Prevention & Rehabilitation Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, ON, Canada. apipe@ottawaheart.ca

Full Title: Impact of self-hypnosis in women on select physiologic and psychological parameters

OBJECTIVE: To examine physiologic and psychologic effects of hypnosis in healthy women. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental, within-subject, repeated measures. SETTING: Private laboratory setting in an urban Midwestern College of Nursing. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 30 healthy, female volunteers who were nonpregnant, predominantly White, college students. METHOD: Participants listened to a 30-minute recording of relaxing, affirming hypnotic suggestions while sitting comfortably in a recliner. Hypnotizability and trait anxiety were measured at baseline. Tension-anxiety was measured at baseline and following the hypnotic induction. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and heart rate variability were collected before, during, and following the hypnotic experience. RESULTS: Paired t tests revealed significantly reduced heart rate (p<.001), respiratory rate (p<.001), low-to-high frequency heart rate variability ratio (p<.001), and tension-anxiety (p<.001), whereas high frequency heart rate variability was increased (p<.001) after the 30-minute hypnotic session. CONCLUSIONS: Hypnosis is an innovative, low-technology, self-modulated approach that may contribute to stress reduction and health promotion. Parameters demonstrated increased parasympathetic nervous system activity associated with relaxation during and immediately after the hypnosis experience. Findings from this study suggest that nurses can include hypnosis information when advising healthy women about available stress reduction approaches, as well as tailor their nursing care for women who present using this alternative approach.

VandeVusse L, Hanson L, Berner MA, White Winters JM. Marquette University Nurse-Midwifery Program, P. O. Box 1881, Clark Hall, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA. leona.vandevusse@mu.edu

by Bonnie M. Morét, CCHt

In his book Healing the Addictive Mind, Lee Jampolsky states, "When we are caught in addiction it is impossible to experience love. Compulsivity and peace of mind are mutually exclusive...our addictions slowly become the walls behind which we hide. Eventually our walls become so high that instead of simply hiding we become prisoners of our own making. The guards in the prison of addiction are our egos while the bars of our cells are forged with our irrational beliefs."

[More]

Full Title: Music therapy to reduce pain and anxiety in children with cancer undergoing lumbar puncture: a randomized clinical trial.

A nonpharmacological method can be an alternative or complement to analgesics.The aim of this study was to evaluate if music medicine influences pain and anxiety in children undergoing lumbar punctures. A randomized clinical trial was used in 40 children (aged 7-12 years) with leukemia, followed by interviews in 20 of these participants. The participants were randomly assigned to a music group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). The primary outcome was pain scores and the secondary was heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation measured before, during, and after the procedure. Anxiety scores were measured before and after the procedure. Interviews with open-ended questions were conducted in conjunction with the completed procedures. The results showed lower pain scores and heart and respiratory rates in the music group during and after the lumbar puncture. The anxiety scores were lower in the music group both before and after the procedure. The findings from the interviews confirmed the quantity results through descriptions of a positive experience by the children, including less pain and fear.

Nguyen TN, Nilsson S, Hellström AL, Bengtson A. National Hospital of Paediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam.

by Michael Licenblat

In today's world, we are working longer hours, have no time for breaks, grab food on the run, are too busy to exercise, get broken sleep, and are walking around exhausted. Is modern work-life slowly killing us?

[More]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy massage with jasmine oil (Jasminum sambac L., Oleaceae) on humans. Human autonomic parameters, i.e. blood pressure, pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation, breathing rate, and skin temperature, were recorded as indicators of the arousal level of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, subjects had to rate their emotional condition in terms of relaxation, vigor, calmness, attentiveness, mood, and alertness in order to assess subjective behavioral arousal. Forty healthy volunteers participated in the experiments. Jasmine oil was applied topically to the skin of the abdomen of each subject. Compared with placebo, jasmine oil caused significant increases of breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which indicated an increase of autonomic arousal. At the emotional level, subjects in the jasmine oil group rated themselves as more alert, more vigorous and less relaxed than subjects in the control group. This finding suggests an increase of subjective behavioral arousal. In conclusion, our results demonstrated the stimulating/activating effect of jasmine oil and provide evidence for its use in aromatherapy for the relief of depression and uplifting mood in humans.

Hongratanaworakit T. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Srinakharinwirot University, Rangsit-Ongkharak Road, Nakhonnayok 26120, Thailand. tapanee@swu.ac.th

Full Title: Predictors of the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic insomnia comorbid with breast cancer

Prior studies have supported the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia comorbid with cancer. This article reports secondary analyses that were performed on one of these studies to investigate the predictive role of changes in dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, adherence to behavioral strategies, and some nonspecific factors on sleep changes assessed subjectively and objectively. Fifty-seven women with chronic insomnia comorbid with breast cancer received CBT for insomnia. At posttreatment, subjective sleep improvements were best predicted by higher initial levels of treatment expectancies, but also by decreased dysfunctional beliefs about sleep; the most consistent predictors of polysomnography (PSG) assessed sleep improvements were reduced dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and a higher avoidance of day napping. At 6-month follow-up, subjectively assessed sleep improvements were best predicted by adherence to behavioral strategies, whereas none of the predictors was significantly associated with PSG-assessed sleep improvements. This study gives some support to the importance of targeting erroneous beliefs about sleep and poor sleep habits in the treatment of cancer-related insomnia, but also to the importance of enhancing patients' expectancies for improvement.

J Consult Clin Psychol. 2009 Aug;77(4):742-50. Tremblay V, Savard J, Ivers H. Laval University Cancer Research Center and School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada