Cheryl Canfield counsels individuals and groups in two Northern California locations: Santa Rosa, and the little town of Copperopolis, on Highway 4, between Stockton and Angels Camp. She is an author, peace proponent (inner as well as outer), and nationally known speaker and workshop leader.

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by Tim Brunson, PhD

Living in the southern United States frequently I am asked by compassionate neighbors to which church I "belong" and what is my political persuasion. Despite their being driven by a strong sense of community, a factor that makes living here so enjoyable, over the years I have become increasingly uncomfortable answering them. By doing so, I feel that I have been summarily boxed into a one-dimensional identification. Frankly, I would like to believe that I am just a tad more complex.

Over the years I have come to examine my beliefs, especially those that seem to refer to concepts and ideas that are clearly beyond my control. For instance, although as a pilot many times I found opportunities to appreciate the existence of God and the effects of gravity, spending time arguing about either is simply a waste of time that prevents me pursuing more relevant opportunities. Let's face it. My strongly held opinions in these matters will never change the truth. Therefore, I would like to spend my time pursuing more relevant activities such as working for the benefit of others or striving for my own self-actualization.

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Full Title: Management of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans in a Veterans Health Administration chiropractic clinic: a case series

Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans commonly seek care for musculoskeletal complaints in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Chiropractic services for musculoskeletal conditions have recently been introduced to VHA. No reports have been published on chiropractic care for OIF/OEF veterans. This study was designed to describe elements of the processes and outcomes of care for OIF/OEF veterans in a VHA chiropractic clinic. A retrospective review of consecutive cases consulted to one VHA chiropractic clinic was conducted. Thirty-one cases were identified. Consultations originated in primary care and specialty clinics that commonly manage musculoskeletal conditions. Military traumatic injury and posttraumatic stress disorder were common. Adverse effects of treatment were mild and transitory. In 19 cases (61%), a pain decrease above the threshold for minimally important change was reported. This article is the first description of health services delivered to OIF/OEF veterans in a VHA chiropractic clinic. Chiropractic management was safe in these cases, and results support the hypothesis that such management may be effective in certain OIF/OIF veterans. A better understanding of the characteristics of these particular patients and the processes of care received in VHA chiropractic clinics is needed to improve the clinical care of these veterans.

J Rehabil Res Dev. 2010;47(1):1-6. Lisi AJ. Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Anthony.lisi@va.gov

BACKGROUND: There has been a breakthrough in the understanding of anaesthetic drug effects during the last two decades, and new monitors aimed at quantifying such effects have been developed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This review is based on publications from the last 15 years, oral presentations, and rewritten parts of the author's PhD thesis. RESULTS: General anaesthesia can be regarded as a combination of hypnosis (sleep), analgesia and muscle relaxation. Modern anaesthetic drugs aim at each of these effects separately. Pharmacological variation makes it impossible to find one dose suitable for all, so tools for measuring drug effects in the individual patient are warranted. Monitors for measuring depth-of-hypnosis and partly analgesic effect are commercially available. Among these, BIS (bispectral index), based on EEG, is by far the best documented. BIS is proven useful for preventing undesired awareness and overdosing, but there are major limitations. Use of such technology in clinical practice is under constant debate. INTERPRETATION: Even though the BIS technology is promising and used widely, no health authorities have so far recommended that such monitors should be compulsory during general anaesthesia, but rather that it should be considered on an individual basis. So far, it seems like this is a sensible approach in Norway as well.

Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2010 Mar 25;130(6):633-7. Høymork SC. Anestesi- og intensivavdelingen, Vestre Viken, Sykehuset Asker og Baerum 1309 Rud, Norway. s.c.hoymork@medisin.uio.no

Full Title: Immediate effects of acupuncture on strength performance: a randomized, controlled crossover trial

The present study investigated the immediate efficacy of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture and placebo laser acupuncture on strength performance. A total of 33 recreational athletes (25.2 +/- 2.8 years; 13 women) were randomized to receive acupuncture, sham acupuncture (needling at non-acupuncture points) and placebo laser acupuncture (deactivated laser device) in a double-blind crossover fashion with 1 week between trials. Assessment included bipedal drop jumps for maximum rebound height and quadriceps maximum isometric voluntary force (MIVF). Furthermore, surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure the EMG activity of the rectus femoris muscle during a 30-s sustained MIVF of the knee extensors. Mean power frequency (MPF) analysis was applied to characterize muscular endurance. Measurements were performed at baseline and immediately after treatment by a blinded investigator. Repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc paired-sample t test with Bonferroni-Holm correction were used for statistical analysis. The difference in the mean change in MIVF from baseline between acupuncture (46.6 N) and sham laser acupuncture (19.6 N) was statistically significant (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between acupuncture (46.6 N) and sham acupuncture (28.8 N). ANOVA did not show statistically significant treatment effects for drop jump height or MPF. The present study shows that a single acupuncture treatment was efficacious for improving isometric quadriceps strength in recreational athletes. These results might have implications not only for athletic performance enhancement, but also for rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring neuromuscular function.

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010 May 25.Hübscher M, Vogt L, Ziebart T, Banzer W. Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Ginnheimer Landstrasse 39, 60487, Frankfurt, Germany, m.huebscher@sport.uni-frankfurt.de.

by Michael Licenblat

When people produce their best results, they talk about being in a state known as 'the zone'.

Put simply, this is a highly productive state of mind and body where you are simultaneously intense and calm, able to focus on the specific whilst monitoring the big picture, all whilst appearing natural and effortless.

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Preoperative anxiety is prevalent in surgical patients who may require anxiety medications, thus impacting preoperative teaching and patient satisfaction. No studies were found in a comprehensive search on the effect of essential oils on anxiety in the preoperative setting. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether the essential oil lavandin is more effective than standard care in reducing preoperative anxiety. A convenience sample of 150 adult patients were randomly assigned to either control (standard care), experimental (standard care plus essential oil lavandin), or sham (standard care plus jojoba oil) groups. Visual analog scales were used to assess anxiety on admission and OR transfer. Controlling for baseline anxiety and pain, the lavandin group had significantly lower anxiety on OR transfer, suggesting that lavandin is a simple, low-risk, cost-effective intervention with the potential to improve preoperative outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. Future studies should test the effects of lavandin in the postoperative phase and in specific populations with documented high anxiety.

J Perianesth Nurs. 2009 Dec;24(6):348-55. Braden R, Reichow S, Halm MA. United Hospital, St Paul, MN, USA.

A new method of studying with the Institute has arrived. IHRI Distance Learning courses may now be purchased on CD through www.timbrunson.com. The CD course comes with the same high quality content found in the online version, complete with each lesson video and demonstration text and audio.

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Christopher Devin Hastings has over 26 years experience practicing hypnosis in its applications to help others. He holds advanced certification with three of the most prestigious hypnotherapy schools in the United States. Devin also holds a degree in electronics and was certified in satellite ground equipment technology by the U.S. Army.

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Full Title: Assessing the immediate and maintained effects of hypnosis on self-efficacy and soccer wall-volley performance

This study evaluated the effects of hypnosis on self-efficacy and soccer performance. Fifty-nine collegiate soccer players were randomly allocated to either a hypnosis (n = 30) or video attention-control group (n = 29). A pretest-posttest design with an additional 4-week follow-up was used. Self-efficacy was measured via a task-specific questionnaire comprising 10 items relating to good performance on a soccer wall-volley task. The hypnotic intervention comprised three sessions using ego-strengthening suggestions. The control group watched edited videos of professional soccer games. Results indicated that, following the intervention, the hypnosis group were more efficacious and performed better than the control group. These differences were also seen at the 4-week follow-up stage. Although changes in self-efficacy were associated with changes in performance, the effect of hypnosis on performance was not mediated by changes in self-efficacy. The study demonstrates that hypnosis can be used to enhance and maintain self-efficacy and soccer wall-volley performance.

J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2010 Apr;32(2):243-52. Barker J, Jones M, Greenlees I. Department of Sport and Exercise, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, United Kingdom.

AIMS: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of music on pain reaction and anxiety during labour. BACKGROUND: Music therapy has been used on clinical medicine. Only few scientific studies validate the value on labour women. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. METHODS: Sixty primiparas expected to have a normal spontaneous delivery were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). The experimental group received routine care and music therapy, whereas the control group received routine care only. A self-report visual analogue scale for pain and a nurse-rated present behavioural intensity were used to measure labour pain. Anxiety was measured with a visual analogue scale for anxiety and finger temperature. Pain and anxiety between groups were compared during the latent phase (2-4 cm cervical dilation) and active phase (5-7 cm) separately. RESULTS: Our results revealed that compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly lower pain, anxiety and a higher finger temperature during the latent phase of labour. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups on all outcome measures during the active phase. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for the use of music as an empirically based intervention of women for labour pain and anxiety during the latent phase of labour. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings support that music listening is an acceptable and non-medical coping strategy for labouring women. Especially, apply in reducing the pain and anxiety for women who are at the early phase of labour.

J Clin Nurs. 2010 Apr;19(7-8):1065-72. Liu YH, Chang MY, Chen CH. Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

by Bonnie M. Morét, CCHt

At any given moment in our lives, we are making choices. We can choose to live fully in the moment, to live our dreams, to be whom we dream of being or to ignore the still small voice inside of us that is begging to be heard -- to live life with everything we've got. Have you chosen to reach for the stars, living a life full of passion and possibilities? Or have you chosen to get really comfortable with watching your dreams pass you by and thinking about what might have been if not for those postponed and unfulfilled dreams?

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Neurofeedback (NF) could help to improve attentional and self-management capabilities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a randomised controlled trial, NF training was found to be superior to a computerised attention skills training (AST) (Gevensleben et al. in J Child Psychol Psychiatry 50(7):780-789, 2009). In the present paper, treatment effects at 6-month follow-up were studied. 94 children with ADHD, aged 8-12 years, completed either 36 sessions of NF training (n = 59) or a computerised AST (n = 35). Pre-training, post-training and follow-up assessment encompassed several behaviour rating scales (e.g., the German ADHD rating scale, FBB-HKS) completed by parents. Follow-up information was analysed in 61 children (ca. 65%) on a per-protocol basis. 17 children (of 33 dropouts) had started a medication after the end of the training or early in the follow-up period. Improvements in the NF group (n = 38) at follow-up were superior to those of the control group (n = 23) and comparable to the effects at the end of the training. For the FBB-HKS total score (primary outcome measure), a medium effect size of 0.71 was obtained at follow-up. A reduction of at least 25% in the primary outcome measure (responder criterion) was observed in 50% of the children in the NF group. In conclusion, behavioural improvements induced by NF training in children with ADHD were maintained at a 6-month follow-up. Though treatment effects appear to be limited, the results confirm the notion that NF is a clinically efficacious module in the treatment of children with ADHD.

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010 May 25. Gevensleben H, Holl B, Albrecht B, Schlamp D, Kratz O, Studer P, Rothenberger A, Moll GH, Heinrich H. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Göttingen, v.Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.

by Mark Gorkin, LICSW

Ten Personal-Psychological Factors that May Impede Early Cardio/Health Prevention, Detection, and Intervention

Why are we often reluctant to know the state of our medical health, let alone whether we have a medical condition? For example, why don't we more frequently avail ourselves of the advances in cardiovascular health testing to foster disease prevention or early disease detection? The evidence is compelling: did you know that as many as 90,000 lives could be saved each year if cardio health screenings were conducted on all asymptomatic men between the ages of 45-75 and women between the ages of 55-75 (American Journal of Cardiology, July 2006)? (And while these questions are of universal import, I suspect they have particular relevance for men, a species known for ignoring health issues.)

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Full Title: Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Daily Living Skills in Children with High-Functioning Autism and Concurrent Anxiety Disorders

CBT is a promising treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and focuses, in part, on children's independence and self-help skills. In a trial of CBT for anxiety in ASD (Wood et al. in J Child Psychol Psychiatry 50:224-234, 2009), children's daily living skills and related parental intrusiveness were assessed. Forty children with ASD (7-11 years) and their primary caregiver were randomly assigned to an immediate treatment (IT; n = 17) or 3-month waitlist (WL; n = 23) condition. In comparison to WL, IT parents reported increases in children's total and personal daily living skills, and reduced involvement in their children's private daily routines. Reductions correlated with reduced anxiety severity. These results provide preliminary evidence that CBT may yield increased independence and daily living skills among children with ASD.

J Autism Dev Disord. 2010 May 28. Drahota A, Wood JJ, Sze KM, Van Dyke M. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive (MC: 0603), La Jolla, CA, 92093-0603, USA, adrahota@ucsd.edu.

BACKGROUND: The health benefits of physical activity and exercise are well documented and these effects could help people with schizophrenia. OBJECTIVES: To determine the mental health effects of exercise/physical activity programmes for people with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like illnesses. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (December 2008) which is based on regular searches of CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO. We also inspected references within relevant papers. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomised controlled trials comparing any intervention where physical activity or exercise was considered to be the main or active ingredient with standard care or other treatments for people with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like illnesses. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We independently inspected citations and abstracts, ordered papers, quality assessed and data extracted. For binary outcomes we calculated a fixed-effect risk ratio (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Where possible, the weighted number needed to treat/harm statistic (NNT/H) and its 95% confidence interval (CI), was also calculated. For continuous outcomes, endpoint data were preferred to change data. We synthesised non-skewed data from valid scales using a weighted mean difference (WMD). MAIN RESULTS: Three randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Trials assessed the effects of exercise on physical and mental health. Overall numbers leaving the trials were similar. Two trials (Beebe 2005 and Marzaloni 2008) compared exercise to standard care and both found exercise to significantly improve negative symptoms of mental state (Mental Health Inventory Depression: 1RCT, n=10, MD 17.50 CI 6.70 to 28.30, PANNS negative: 1RCT, n=10, MD -8.50 CI -11.11 to -5.89). No absolute effects were found for positive symptoms of mental state. Physical health improved significantly in the exercise group compared to those in standard care (1RCT, n=13, MD 79.50 CI 33.82 to 125.18), but no effect on peoples' weight/BMI was apparent. Duraiswamy 2007 compared exercise with yoga and found that yoga had a better outcome for mental state (PANNS total: 1RCT, n=41, MD 14.95 CI 2.60 to 27.30). The same trial also found those in the yoga group had significantly better quality of life scores (WHOQOL Physical: 1RCT, n=41, MD -9.22 CI -18.86 to 0.42). Adverse effects (AIMS total scores) were, however, similar. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Results of this Cochrane review are similar to existing reviews that have examined the health benefits of exercise in this population (Faulkner 2005). Although studies included in this review are small and used various measures of physical and mental health, results indicated that regular exercise programmes are possible in this population, and that they can have healthful effects on both the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals with schizophrenia. Larger randomised studies are required before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 May 12;5:CD004412. Gorczynski P, Faulkner G. Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto, 55 Harbord St, Toronto, Canada, On M5S 2W6

Marleen Mulder, known as the Maestro of Hypnotherapy, is a State Approved Hypnotherapy Instructor and Vice President of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. She brought with her a vast background when she became Co-Director of the Hypnotherapy Training Institute in 1980. She was educated in the Netherlands at the University of Groningen Medical School and at a newly developed teachers college, Ubbo Emmius, Groningen, where she played an important role in the school administration. In the 1970's, she taught various forms of meditation and holistic healing in Europe and Japan. She has taught hypnotherapy at various training centers and symposiums on this continent and in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.

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Full Title: The chiropractic care of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a retrospective case series

BACKGROUND: Characterized with hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a prevalence in children, ranging from 2.6% to 11.4%. The medical approach is multimodal, with combination therapies of behavioral modification and pharmacotherapy. With growing concerns regarding the safety of both short-term and long-term use of psychotropic medications, the need for investigating alternative approaches to the care of children is warranted. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to describe the chiropractic care of children with medically diagnosed ADHD. DESIGN: Retrospective case series were reviewed. SETTING: The review was conducted in a private practice of chiropractic with a solo practitioner. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric patients (aged < or =18 years) attending chiropractic care for a minimum period of five months following a medical diagnosis of ADHD were included in this review. INTERVENTION: The intervention was chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy augmented by nutritional supplements. RESULTS: Our review found four patient files satisfying the inclusion criteria. All patients were males, ranging in age from nine to 13 years (mean age, 10 years), with three patients having a history of medication use and two patients having prescribed medication at the start of chiropractic care. Using a 15-item parent/teacher ADHD questionnaire, the patients' responses to chiropractic care were monitored. Using the Friedman test to compare observations repeated on the same subjects, our findings found improvement in ADHD symptoms (ie, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness, as well as behavioral, social, or emotional difficulties) and provide supporting evidence on the effectiveness of chiropractic in the treatment of children with ADHD. CONCLUSION: A retrospective case series of ADHD patients under chiropractic care is described. This provides supporting evidence on the benefits of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. We encourage further research in this area. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. BACKGROUND: Characterized with hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a prevalence in children, ranging from 2.6% to 11.4%. The medical approach is multimodal, with combination therapies of behavioral modification and pharmacotherapy. With growing concerns regarding the safety of both short-term and long-term use of psychotropic medications, the need for investigating alternative approaches to the care of children is warranted. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to describe the chiropractic care of children with medically diagnosed ADHD. DESIGN: Retrospective case series were reviewed. SETTING: The review was conducted in a private practice of chiropractic with a solo practitioner. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric patients (aged < or =18 years) attending chiropractic care for a minimum period of five months following a medical diagnosis of ADHD were included in this review. INTERVENTION: The intervention was chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy augmented by nutritional supplements. RESULTS: Our review found four patient files satisfying the inclusion criteria. All patients were males, ranging in age from nine to 13 years (mean age, 10 years), with three patients having a history of medication use and two patients having prescribed medication at the start of chiropractic care. Using a 15-item parent/teacher ADHD questionnaire, the patients' responses to chiropractic care were monitored. Using the Friedman test to compare observations repeated on the same subjects, our findings found improvement in ADHD symptoms (ie, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness, as well as behavioral, social, or emotional difficulties) and provide supporting evidence on the effectiveness of chiropractic in the treatment of children with ADHD. CONCLUSION: A retrospective case series of ADHD patients under chiropractic care is described. This provides supporting evidence on the benefits of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. We encourage further research in this area. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Explore (NY). 2010 May-Jun;6(3):173-82. Alcantara J, Davis J. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, 327 N. Middletown Road, Media, PA 19063, USA. dr_jalcantara@yahoo.com

This article describes how hypnosis can be used as an efficient technique in treating patients with anxious disorders. Hypnosis can be used to achieve a better control of the anxious symptoms through relaxation. It allows the patient to anticipate the anxiety triggering events. This technique also allows the patient to mentalise and integrate traumatic events, therefore helping him to prevent the post-traumatic anxious symptoms.

Rev Med Suisse. 2010 Feb 17;6(236):330-3. Smaga D, Cheseaux N, Forster A, Colombo S, Rentsch D, de Tonnac N. HUG, Département de psychiatrie, Avenue Krieg 15, 1208 Genève. smaga@infomaniak.ch

Full Title: A Randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee: Effects of patient-provider communication.

OBJECTIVES: There is conflicting evidence on the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCA), and the role of placebo effects elicited by acupuncturists' behavior has not been elucidated. We conducted a 3-month randomized clinical trial in patients with knee osteoarthritis to compare the efficacy of TCA to sham acupuncture, and examine the effects of acupuncturists' communication style. METHODS: Acupuncturists were trained to interact in one of two communication styles: 'high' or 'neutral' expectations. Patients were randomized to one of 3 groups: waiting list, 'high' or 'neutral', and nested within style, TCA or sham acupuncture over 6 weeks. Sham acupuncture was performed in non-meridian points, with shallow needles and minimal stimulation. Primary outcome measures were: Joint-specific Multidimensional Assessment of Pain (J-MAP), Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and satisfaction. RESULTS: 455 patients who received treatment (TCA or sham) and 72 controls were included. No statistically significant differences were observed between TCA or sham acupuncture, but both groups had significant reductions in J-MAP and WOMAC pain compared to the waiting group (-1.1, -1.0, and -0.1, p<0.001; -13.7, -14, -1.7, p<0.001). Statistically significant differences were observed in J-MAP pain reduction and satisfaction, favoring the 'high' expectations group. Fifty-two percent and 43% in the TCA and sham groups thought they had received TCA (kappa=0.05), suggesting successful blinding. CONCLUSION: TCA was not superior to sham acupuncture. However, acupuncturists' style had significant effects on pain reduction and satisfaction, suggesting that the analgesic benefits of acupuncture can be partially mediated through placebo effects related to the acupuncturist's behavior.

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010 Apr 21. Suarez-Almazor ME, Looney C, Liu Y, Cox V, Pietz K, Marcus DM, Street RL Jr. Department of General Internal Medicine, Ambulatory Treatment, and Emergency Care - University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MSA, CL, VC).

by Jef Gazley, MS, LMFT, DCC

The term energy psychology refers to a number of related energy therapies that are based on the Chinese Meridian System of medicine. Energy psychology quickly and thoroughly relieves mental health problems by eliminating emotional traumas or blockages from the mind/body continuum by touching or tapping key points on the body. Some of the more popular forms of energy psychology are Neuro Emotional Technique™ or NET™, Thought Field Therapy or TFT, and Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.

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OBJECTIVES: To review the effect of lavender scent on anticipatory anxiety in dental participants. METHODS: In a cluster randomized-controlled trial, patients' (N = 340) anxiety was assessed while waiting for a scheduled dental appointment, either under the odor of lavender or with no odor. Current anxiety, assessed by the brief State Trait Anxiety Indicator (STAI-6), and generalized dental anxiety, assessed by the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) were examined. RESULTS: Analyses of variance (anovas) showed that although both groups showed similar, moderate levels of generalized dental anxiety (MDAS F((1,338)) = 2.17, P > 0.05) the lavender group reported significantly lower current anxiety (STAI: F((1,338)) = 74.69, P < 0.001) than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Although anxiety about future dental visits seems to be unaffected, lavender scent reduces state anxiety in dental patients.

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2010 Feb;38(1):83-7. Epub 2009 Nov 23. Kritsidima M, Newton T, Asimakopoulou K. King's College London, Dental Institute, Denmark Hill, London, UK.

In 1992, Liza was scheduled to undergo her third surgery for ovarian cyst when she was referred to a hypnotherapist. After four sessions of hypnotherapy, she was able to heal herself, making the surgery no longer necessary. This powerful experience with hypnosis and guided imagery, combined with her natural talent for listening and understanding, led her to this science to help others.

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Full Title: Hypnotherapeutic ego strengthening with male South African coronary artery bypass patients

Morbidity (i.e., elevated anxiety and depression) is a common feature of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) patients, pre- and postoperatively. Since hypnotherapy can possibly reduce morbidity in CABS patients, the aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of hypnotherapeutic ego strengthening (HES) to facilitate patient coping with concomitant anxiety and depression. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to a non-intervention control group (n = 25) and an experimental group (n = 25) and exposed to a pre- and postoperative HES intervention. Anxiety and depression were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory and Profile of Mood States, administered preoperatively, at discharge, and at 6-week follow-up. Findings confirmed large practical reductions of anxiety and depression in the experimental group and were maintained at follow-up, while a trend towards increased depression levels occurred in the control group. Although not generalizable, results suggest broadened applications of hypnotherapy with patients in cardiac centers.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2004 Oct;47(2):79-92. de Klerk JE, du Plessis WF, Steyn HS, Botha M. jacobaedeklerk@itsoft.mweb.co.za

By Nadine Aurel

Luca Bosurgi, a defining voice in the emerging field of mind-spirit therapy, transforms psychoanalysis to spiritual evolution. He has developed an original mind coaching technique: The CognitiveOS Hypnosis. For the first time he has agreed to talk about the power of the CognitiveOS Hypnosis and why it's the next step in psychoanalytical therapy.

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