Feasibility of clinical hypnosis for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: a case study.

Parkinson's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder with a prevalence rate of approximately 1.6% in elderly Americans. This case study reports on a 51-year-old male Parkinson's patient who received 3 weekly sessions of a hypnosis intervention, as well as instruction in self-hypnosis. Actigraphy was used to assess rest-tremor severity. Results revealed a 94% reduction in rest tremors following treatment. Self-reported levels of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, pain, stiffness, libido, and quality of life also showed improvements. The patient reported a high level of satisfaction with treatment. These findings suggest clinical hypnosis is potentially feasible and beneficial treatment for some Parkinson's symptoms. Further investigation with diverse samples and an ambulatory monitoring device is warranted.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2013 Apr;61(2):172-82. doi: 10.1080/00207144.2013.753829. Elkins G, Sliwinski J, Bowers J, Encarnacion E. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA. Gary_Elkins@baylor.edu