Abstract Dopaminergic mechanisms have been theorized to influence hypnotizability and sensorimotor gating. In this study, the authors investigated an association between sensorimotor gating, as measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI), and hypnotizability, as assessed by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C). They found an inverse correlation between the SSHS:C and PPI. This finding, which replicates an earlier study, provides further evidence for a dopaminergic basis for hypnotizability and suggests additional avenues for research, including a method for possibly enhancing hypnotizability through pharmacological interventions.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Oct-Dec;59(4):399-405. Levin R, Heresco-Levy U, Edelman S, Shapira H, Ebstein RP, Lichtenberg P. a Herzog Memorial Hospital and Hebrew University , Jerusalem , Israel.

Abstract Objectives: The study objectives were to develop and objectively assess the therapeutic effect of a novel movement-based complementary and alternative medicine approach for children with an autism-spectrum disorder (ASD). Design: A within-subject analysis comparing pre- to post-treatment scores on two standard measures of childhood behavioral problems was used. Settings and location: The intervention and data analysis occurred at a tertiary care, medical school teaching hospital. Subjects: Twenty-four (24) children aged 3-16 years with a diagnosis of an ASD comprised the study group. Intervention: The efficacy of an 8-week multimodal yoga, dance, and music therapy program based on the relaxation response (RR) was developed and examined. Outcome measures: The study outcome was measured using The Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) and the Aberrant Behavioral Checklist (ABC). Results: Robust changes were found on the BASC-2, primarily for 5-12-year-old children. Unexpectedly, the post-treatment scores on the Atypicality scale of the BASC-2, which measures some of the core features of autism, changed significantly (p=0.003). Conclusions: A movement-based, modified RR program, involving yoga and dance, showed efficacy in treating behavioral and some core features of autism, particularly for latency-age children.

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct 12. Rosenblatt LE, Gorantla S, Torres JA, Yarmush RS, Rao S, Park ER, Denninger JW, Benson H, Fricchione GL, Bernstein B, Levine JB. 1 Department of Psychiatry, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center , Hartford, CT.

Hypnotherapy and training in self-hypnosis can help persons achieve remarkable success in alleviating anxiety, not only in anxiety disorders, but also in any problem involving anxiety. The author describes the role of hypnosis in the treatment of several disorders and provides clinical examples illustrating treatment of generalized anxiety, phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorders. He concludes that because hypnosis exploits the intimate connection between mind and body, it provides relief through improved self-regulation and also beneficially affects cognition and the experience of self-mastery.

Bull Menninger Clin. 1990 Spring;54(2):209-16. Smith WH. Menninger Clinic, Topeka, KS 66601-0829.

After graduating from the San Francisco College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Robert Johns earned his doctorate from SAMRA University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Johns has apprenticed with such masters as Dr. Andrew Tseng, a former District Physician of Shanghai, and Dr. Fung Fung, an herbalist with over sixty years' clinical experience and author of Sixty Years in Search of Cures. He has also apprenticed with Dr. Zhu Qi Xiu, Chief of Opthalmology at the Foshan 2nd Hospital, and has studied with Dr. Ouyang Qun, Vice Chairman of China's National Acupuncture Research Committee.

Since 1984, Dr. Johns has taught Chinese medicine in the San Francisco Bay Area at the San Francisco College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, San Francisco State University, the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Meiji College of Oriental Medicine, and the University of California at San Francisco. He is licensed as a Qi Gong instructor by Beijing's People's University and presently maintains a private practice in Berkeley, California.

For more information visit: robertjohns.wordpress.com.

This paper explores the role of story for healing. Specifically, this paper describes story and healing in cultural or whole medical systems, including Latino/Hispanic traditions, Native American/Indigenous traditions, and Homeopathy. In addition, the authors provide a brief overview of story and healing in the nursing and medical literature, and evaluate the value of story in our current practice as holistic nurses. It is important for the holistic nurse to be aware of the role of stories for healing in diverse systems of healthcare. This awareness can help bridge the knowledge gap between cultural or whole medical systems and Western Medicine, thus optimizing the healing environment for the patient, nurse, and other providers of care.

J Holist Nurs. 2011 Oct 4. Reich J, Michaels C.

Full Title: Effectiveness of hypnotherapy with cancer patients' trajectory: emesis, acute pain, and analgesia and anxiolysis in procedures.

Clinical hypnosis in cancer settings provides symptom reduction (pain and anxiety) and empowers patients to take an active role in their treatments and procedures. The goal of this paper is to systematically and critically review evidence on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for emesis, analgesia, and anxiolysis in acute pain, specifically in procedures with an emphasis on the period from 1999 to 2006. Further, it aims to provide a theoretical rationale for the use of hypnosis with cancer populations in the whole spectrum of illness/treatment trajectory in several clinical contexts. Finally, a treatment protocol for management of overt anxiety and phobic reactions in the radiotherapy suite is presented, with the intent of having such a protocol empirically validated in the future.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2007 Jul;55(3):336-54. Néron S, Stephenson R. Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Quebec, Canada. sylvain.neron@mcgill.ca

Full title: Treatment of HPV with Hypnosis-Psychodynamic Considerations of Psychoneuroimmunology: A Brief Communication.

Abstract There is increasing evidence that the hypnotic cure of warts (infection by the human papilloma virus or HPV) results from activation of an immune response, but whether this is cellular or systemic is unknown. The hypnosis can be by direct suggestion or analytical hypnotherapy when indicated. The evidence is reviewed, and 4 clinical cases suggesting cellular immune response are presented.

Psychoneuroimmunology: A Brief Communication. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Oct-Dec;59(4):392-8. Ewin DM. a Tulane University Medical School , New Orleans , Louisiana , USA.

A retrospective quantitative study on dietary references found in medical records of 2753 patients attending consultations from 10/1/1994 to 5/31/2007 was conducted. The symptoms found in the rubrics relating to food and drink aggravation and amelioration, aversion and craving of homeopathic repertories reflect diets at different places and times and do not correspond fully, to contemporary gastronomy. Desires for sweet and spicy foods were statistically more frequent, revealing the prevailing taste for such food among the studied population. Food cravings should be carefully analyzed before considering them as indications for choosing homeopathic therapy, they are less significant than aversions, aggravations and ameliorations.

Homeopathy. 2011 Jul;100(3):144-7. Filho RD. R Borges Lagoa, 564 Cj 71. São Paulo - SP CEP 04038-000, Brazil. rdolce@uol.com.br

This discussion piece suggests that reliance on a Higher Power in drug abuse recovery programs is entertained among some addicts for its psychobiological effects. Prayer, meditation, early romantic love, and drug abuse may have in common activation of mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways of the brain and the generation of intense emotional states. In this sense, reliance on a Higher Power may operate as a substitute addiction, which replaces the psychobiological functions formerly served by drug use. Implications of this perspective are discussed.

Eval Health Prof. 2011 Sep;34(3):362-70. Sussman S, Reynaud M, Aubin HJ, Leventhal AM. 1Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, University of Southern California, CA, USA.

Full Title: Methodological issues in evaluating auricular acupuncture therapy for problems arising from the use of drugs and alcohol.

Auricular acupuncture is an accessible, non-confrontational therapy that appears to be effective when used in drug and alcohol treatment facilities, hospitals and prisons in the UK, Europe and the USA. Despite being popular, research evidence on its effectiveness is lacking, and as a result services are underfunded and risk being withdrawn. There are methodological problems in researching auricular acupuncture. In these days of evidence-based medicine, most studies in this area are explanatory randomized controlled trials, which is limited in capturing the complete benefits of the intervention. Furthermore, there is lack of consensus over definitions of the concept of 'addiction' and whether or not this should be perceived as a 'disease' that can be 'cured' by an intervention such as auricular acupuncture. Basic concepts such as these need to inform development of outcome measures, which should include retention of clients in treatment as an indicator of success. It is argued here that the best approach will integrate research on physical effects with research on subjective experience of those with drug and alcohol problems. The challenge is to design large scale, high quality, pragmatic randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture over the longer term in settings that mimic the delivery of treatment in practice and are informed by acupuncture's own diagnostic traditions, using a combination of objective, quantitative methods and subjective, qualitative methods.

Cowan D. Faculty of Healthand Social Care, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UK. david.cowan@lsbu.ac.uk

Full title: Single-Session Manualized Ego State Therapy (EST) for Combat Stress Injury, PTSD, and ASD, Part 1: The Theory.

Abstract Ego state therapy (EST) evolved from a psychodynamic understanding of personality as a product of an individual's ego states to a conceptualization of how ego-energized and object-energized elements are bound together to cope with a traumatic event. Neurobiological studies now substantiate Watkins's war neuroses conceptualizations. Because of their severity, trauma memories are encoded in the subcortical-subconscious brain regions that are accessed by the single-session manualized EST procedure but not by the popular cognitive-behavioral management therapies. The imprint of the trauma is not accessible or resolvable by such top-down verbal understanding or reframing; EST is a bottom-up therapy. Abreactive hypnosis facilitates ego state expression at physiologically and psychologically intense levels sufficient to activate subcortical processes to release affect in the presence of the therapist, who adds ego strength to the patient. This is followed by interpretation and reintegration. The result is a reconstructed personality that is adaptive and resilient.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Oct-Dec;59(4):379-91. Barabasz AF, Barabasz M, Watkins JG. a Washington State University , Pullman , USA.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate if Canadian doctors of chiropractic consider using wellness strategies after functional recovery in acute and chronic conditions. This study also attempted to determine if there is a difference in the use of wellness management strategies between broad and narrow scope practitioners. METHODS: Forty-one practicing, licensed chiropractors were recruited to complete an interview survey regarding 2 mock clinical case presentations. Interviews were recorded, and influential words or word pairings were identified. Investigators formulated criteria to divide practitioners into broad scope (mixers) and narrow scope (straights). Data were analyzed using Crawdad Analysis Software (version 1.2). RESULTS: All subjects indicated that they would provide information regarding public health and wellness strategies to a patient after functional resolution of the presenting chronic or acute complaints. The responses of broad scope (mixer) chiropractors appeared to be focused on the patient specifically, whereas narrow scope (straight) responses appeared to be more varied when analyzed for noun and noun-pair influence. CONCLUSION: This study of practicing, licensed Canadian chiropractors suggests that wellness strategies may be commonly considered in practice. All subjects in this study reported a number of strategies to educate patients regarding wellness after functional recovery of a complaint.

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011 Jul-Aug;34(6):388-93. Stainsby BE, Porr JT, Kim P, Collinge AM, Hunter JC. Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, ON, Canada. bstainsby@cmcc.ca

Fear of death, pain, or the recurrence of the illness of tumor patients can narrow their attention to a point where a spontaneous altered state of consciousness occurs. In these cases hypnosis either in formal psychotherapy or embedded into the everyday communication with the physician can effectively complement other already known medical and psychological techniques. Although numerous studies have reported the beneficial physical and mental changes induced by hypnosis, for a long time there were not enough research to affect evidence-based medicine. New studies meeting the most rigorous methodological standards, new reviews and the characteristics of hypnosis shown by neuroimaging techniques support the acceptance of this method. Hypnosis is used and studied with adult and child tumor patients alike mostly in the areas of anxiety, pain, nausea, vomiting, quality of life, mood amelioration, immune system and hot flushes. Most of the assays describe hypnosis as an empirically validated treatment technique that in most cases surpass attention diversion, coping trainings, cognitive behavior and relaxation techniques and other regular treatments. In this paper we review these observations.

Magy Onkol. 2011 Mar;55(1):22-31. Epub 2011 Mar 31. Jakubovits E. Alapozó Egészségtudományi Intézet, Semmelweis Egyetem Egészségtudományi Kar, Morfológiai és Fiziológiai Tanszék, Budapest. jakedit@se-etk.hu Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Psychomotor re-education represents a multidimensional therapeutic approach in dealing with children and adults with psychomotor disorders. Therapeutic programs should be based on individual differences, abilities and capabilities, relationships, feelings and individual developmental needs as well as emotional condition of a child. BODY AND MOVEMENT AS THE BASIS OF THE TREATMENT: A movement, glance, touch, voice and word, all being an integral part of a process of psychomotor re-education, are used with a purpose of helping children to discover their own body, their feelings, needs, behaviour. When moving, children discover the space of their own bodily nature, and, subsequently, gestural space and objective space. The body represents a source of pleasure and the freedom of movement, as well as one's own existence, are soon tobe discovered. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: An adequate assessment is a precondition to design a work plan, select the best exercises for each child individually and direct the course of therapy. This is the most suitable method for treating children with slow or disharmonious development, mentally challenged children, children with speech and behaviour disorders. It is also used in the treatment of children with dyspraxic difficulties, difficulties in practognostic and gnostic development, pervasive developmental disorder and children with lateral dominance problems. CONCLUSION: Therefore, a systematic observation seems to be necessary as well as an increased number of research projects aimed at assessing results obtained by exercises in order to get a more precise insight into the process of re-education, selection of exercises, duration period and possible outcomes.

Med Pregl. 2011 Jan-Feb;64(1-2):61-3. Golubovic S, Tubic T, Markovic S. Katedra za specijalnu rehabilitaciju i edukaciju, Medicinski fakultet Novi Sad. gale@neobee.net

Sharon Giammatteo is President of CenterIMT, Center of Integrative Manual Therapy and Diagnostics, including Regional Physical Therapy in Connecticut. CenterIMT is a network of health care clinics providing manual therapy and rehabilitation in the United States and Asia.

Giammatteo graduated from Wingate Institute of Physiotherapy in Israel; received an undergraduate degree in Advanced Health Sciences and Medicine, a graduate degree in Clinical Neurosciences and her Doctoral Degree investigating manual and cranial therapies for the neurologic client.

Giammatteo is President of Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation (DCR), the learning, resource and research center for IMT in Connecticut. DCR presents over 150 seminars around the world each year. Their authorized Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy is situated in Bloomfield, CT.

Full Title: The effect of lavender oil on stress, bispectral index values, and needle insertion pain in volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether lavender oil aromatherapy can reduce the bispectral index (BIS) values and stress and decrease the pain of needle insertion in 30 volunteers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty (30) healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to 2 groups: the experimental group received oxygen with a face mask coated with lavender oil for 5 minutes, and the control group received oxygen through a face mask with no lavender oil for 5 minutes. The stress level (0=no stress, 10=maximum stress), BIS value, and pain intensity of needle insertion (0=no pain, 10=worst pain imaginable) were measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, height, and weight between the two groups. Stress level, BIS value, and pain intensity of needle insertion before aromatherapy were similar between the two groups. However, the stress values (p<0.001) and BIS value (p<0.001) after aromatherapy were significantly reduced compared with the control. In addition, the pain intensity of needle insertion was significantly decreased after aromatherapy compared with the control (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lavender aromatherapy in volunteers provided a significant decrease in the stress levels and in the BIS values. In addition, it significantly reduced the pain intensity of needle insertion.

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Sep;17(9):823-6. Kim S, Kim HJ, Yeo JS, Hong SJ, Lee JM, Jeon Y. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.

A book review by Tim Brunson, PhD

If hypnosis is viewed as a process, which enhances selective thinking, and mindfulness regarded as a here-and-now space/time orientation, then their relationship needs little further intellectual consideration. However, if you follow the line of reasoning that hypnosis is a state characterized by focused awareness, dissociation, or trance while keeping the opinion that mindfulness is also a state, there is indeed an obvious opportunity to contrast the two. Contrary to my frequent comments maintaining that the initial view is the more scientifically supported and the most operational, 30 year veteran psychologist Michael D. Yapko, PhD, uses his new book Hypnosis and Mindfulness: The Power of Suggestion to Transform Experience as an exhaustive exercise to accomplish the latter. In his introduction he sets forth that his purpose is to "show the relevance of hypnosis to the effective utilization" of what he calls guided mindfulness meditation – for which he creates the acronym "GMM." After carefully reading this book, I don't feel that his objective was met. Somehow I was left with the impression that this book serves little productive purpose.

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Virtual reality (VR) has been used to manage pain and distress associated with a wide variety of known painful medical procedures. In clinical settings and experimental studies, participants immersed in VR experience reduced levels of pain, general distress/unpleasantness and report a desire to use VR again during painful medical procedures. Investigators hypothesize that VR acts as a nonpharmacologic form of analgesia by exerting an array of emotional affective, emotion-based cognitive and attentional processes on the body's intricate pain modulation system. While the exact neurobiological mechanisms behind VR's action remain unclear, investigations are currently underway to examine the complex interplay of cortical activity associated with immersive VR. Recently, new applications, including VR, have been developed to augment evidenced-based interventions, such as hypnosis and biofeedback, for the treatment of chronic pain. This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature, exploring clinical and experimental applications of VR for acute and chronic pain management, focusing specifically on current trends and recent developments. In addition, we propose mechanistic theories highlighting VR distraction and neurobiological explanations, and conclude with new directions in VR research, implications and clinical significance.

Pain Manag. 2011 Mar;1(2):147-157. Li A, Montaño Z, Chen VJ, Gold JI. Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Departments of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine & Radiology, 4650 West Sunset Boulevard, MS#12, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.