Tim Brunson DCH

Welcome to The International Hypnosis Research Institute Web site. Our intention is to support and promote the further worldwide integration of comprehensive evidence-based research and clinical hypnotherapy with mainstream mental health, medicine, and coaching. We do so by disseminating, supporting, and conducting research, providing professional level education, advocating increased level of practitioner competency, and supporting the viability and success of clinical practitioners. Although currently over 80% of our membership is comprised of mental health practitioners, we fully recognize the role, support, involvement, and needs of those in the medical and coaching fields. This site is not intended as a source of medical or psychological advice. Tim Brunson, PhD

The Scientific Status of Childhood Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Review of Published Research.



Background: Dissociative identity disorder (DID) remains a controversial diagnosis due to conflicting views on its etiology. Some attribute DID to childhood trauma and others attribute it to iatrogenesis. The purpose of this article is to review the published cases of childhood DID in order to evaluate its scientific status, and to answer research questions related to the etiological models. Methods: I searched MEDLINE and PsycINFO records for studies published since 1980 on DID/multiple personality disorder in children. For each study I coded information regarding the origin of samples and diagnostic methods. Results: The review produced a total of 255 cases of childhood DID reported as individual case studies (44) or aggregated into empirical studies (211). Nearly all cases (93%) emerged from samples of children in treatment, and multiple personalities was the presenting problem in 23% of the case studies. Four US research groups accounted for 65% of all 255 cases. Diagnostic methods typically included clinical evaluation based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder criteria, but hypnosis, structured interviews, and multiple raters were rarely used in diagnoses. Conclusion: Despite continuing research on the related concepts of trauma and dissociation, childhood DID itself appears to be an extremely rare phenomenon that few researchers have studied in depth. Nearly all of the research that does exist on childhood DID is from the 1980s and 1990s and does not resolve the ongoing controversies surrounding the disorder.

Psychother Psychosom. 2011 Aug 5;80(6):329-334. Boysen GA. Department of Psychology, State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia, Fredonia, N.Y., USA.

Mind-body interventions during pregnancy for preventing or treating women's anxiety.



BACKGROUND: Anxiety during pregnancy is a common problem. Anxiety and stress could have consequences on the course of the pregnancy and the later development of the child. Anxiety responds well to treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and/or medication. Non-pharmacological interventions such as mind-body interventions, known to decrease anxiety in several clinical situations, might be offered for treating and preventing anxiety during pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits of mind-body interventions during pregnancy in preventing or treating women's anxiety and in influencing perinatal outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 November 2010), MEDLINE (1950 to 30 November 2010), EMBASE (1974 to 30 November 2010), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) (1 December 2010), ClinicalTrials.gov (December 2010) and Current Controlled Trials (1 December 2010), searched the reference lists of selected studies and contacted professionals and authors in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials, involving pregnant women of any age at any time from conception to one month after birth, comparing mind-body interventions with a control group. Mind-body interventions include: autogenic training, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, imagery, meditation, prayer, auto-suggestion, tai-chi and yoga. Control group includes: standard care, other pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions, other types of mind-body interventions or no treatment at all. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion all assessed risk of bias for each included study. We extracted data independently using an agreed form and checked it for accuracy. MAIN RESULTS: We included eight trials (556 participants), evaluating hypnotherapy (one trial), imagery (five trials), autogenic training (one trial) and yoga (one trial). Due to the small number of studies per intervention and to the diversity of outcome measurements, we performed no meta-analysis, and have reported results individually for each study. Compared with usual care, in one study (133 women), imagery may have a positive effect on anxiety during labor decreasing anxiety at the early and middle stages of labor (MD -1.46; 95% CI -2.43 to -0.49; one study, 133 women) and (MD -1.24; 95% CI -2.18 to -0.30). Another study showed that imagery had a positive effect on anxiety and depression in the immediate postpartum period. Autogenic training might be effective for decreasing women's anxiety before delivering. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Mind-body interventions might benefit women's anxiety during pregnancy. Based on individual studies, there is some but no strong evidence for the effectiveness of mind-body interventions for the management of anxiety during pregnancy. The main limitations of the studies were the lack of blinding and insufficient details on the methods used for randomization.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Jul 6;(7):CD007559. Marc I, Toureche N, Ernst E, Hodnett ED, Blanchet C, Dodin S, Njoya MM. Département de pédiatrie, Université Laval, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, 2705 boulevard Laurier, Québec, Québec, Canada, G1V 4G2.

The Scientific Status of Childhood Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Review of Published Research.



Background: Dissociative identity disorder (DID) remains a controversial diagnosis due to conflicting views on its etiology. Some attribute DID to childhood trauma and others attribute it to iatrogenesis. The purpose of this article is to review the published cases of childhood DID in order to evaluate its scientific status, and to answer research questions related to the etiological models. Methods: I searched MEDLINE and PsycINFO records for studies published since 1980 on DID/multiple personality disorder in children. For each study I coded information regarding the origin of samples and diagnostic methods. Results: The review produced a total of 255 cases of childhood DID reported as individual case studies (44) or aggregated into empirical studies (211). Nearly all cases (93%) emerged from samples of children in treatment, and multiple personalities was the presenting problem in 23% of the case studies. Four US research groups accounted for 65% of all 255 cases. Diagnostic methods typically included clinical evaluation based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder criteria, but hypnosis, structured interviews, and multiple raters were rarely used in diagnoses. Conclusion: Despite continuing research on the related concepts of trauma and dissociation, childhood DID itself appears to be an extremely rare phenomenon that few researchers have studied in depth. Nearly all of the research that does exist on childhood DID is from the 1980s and 1990s and does not resolve the ongoing controversies surrounding the disorder.

Psychother Psychosom. 2011 Aug 5;80(6):329-334. [Epub ahead of print] Boysen GA. Department of Psychology, State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia, Fredonia, N.Y., USA.

The Lack of Reality in Psychotherapy



by Tim Brunson, PhD

Frequently a person undergoes psychotherapy due to their inability to integrate life's experiences in a healthy and productive way. This is caused by problems with their values and beliefs, which are the patterns that they use to filter reality. I see these values and beliefs functioning as a lens, which both limits options and gives a rather incomplete and inaccurate view of the universe and its unlimited possibilities – which is the ultimate reality. Such a person regularly and inadequately accommodates and assimilates their perceptions, which survive the filtering process. This leaves them ill prepared to handle the breadth of life's experiences. Although psychotherapy should help a client or patient overcome this problem, too often it can contribute to its perpetuation.

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"That's not my arm": A hypnotic analogue of somatoparaphrenia.



Introduction. "Instrumental hypnosis" allows researchers to model clinical symptoms in the laboratory, creating "virtual patients" with reversible disturbances in, for example, perception, action, memory, or belief. We used hypnosis to temporarily recreate somatoparaphrenia, a delusional belief that one's own limb belongs to someone else. Methods. We compared a "Fully Formed" somatoparaphrenia suggestion with a "Factor 1 + Factor 2" suggestion that attempted to generate the delusional belief from analogues of its hypothesised underlying factors (i.e., paralysis plus disrupted critical belief evaluation). We tested and then challenged subjects' responses to these suggestions. Results. Although many hypnotic subjects experienced temporary paralysis, only a minority claimed their arm did not belong to them. Notably, the Fully Formed suggestion was more successful in recreating features of somatoparaphrenia than the Factor 1 + Factor 2 suggestion. In response to the challenges, some of those who developed temporary somatoparaphrenia maintained their belief throughout the hypnosis session. Conclusions. We discuss these findings in terms of the "two-factor" theory of delusions and we highlight the advantages versus disadvantages of using hypnosis to explore such delusional beliefs in the laboratory.

Cogn Neuropsychiatry. 2011 May 27:1-28. Rahmanovic A, Barnier AJ, Cox RE, Langdon RA, Coltheart M. Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science (MACCS), Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

The sociocognitive and dissociation theories of hypnosis: toward a rapprochement.



In this introductory article to a special issue on the sociocognitive perspective of hypnosis, the authors contrast two influential hypnosis theories-the sociocognitive and dissociation perspectives-and argue that recent developments in sociocognitive theory (i.e., response set theory) and in the broader field of cognitive psychology pertaining to nonconscious information processing and goal-directed action make possible a rapprochement between theoretical accounts that have vied for attention and empirical support.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Jul;59(3):277-93. Lynn SJ, Green JP. Binghamton University, State University of New York, USA.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnotic relaxation to treat sleep problems in an adolescent



Full title: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnotic relaxation to treat sleep problems in an adolescent with diabetes.

Inadequate sleep among adolescents frequently contributes to obesity and reduced academic performance, along with symptoms of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and attention deficits. The etiological bases of sleep quality has been associated with both stress and sleep habits. These problems tend to be especially important for adolescents with diabetes as the effects of poor sleep complicate health outcomes. This case example concerns a 14-year-old adolescent girl with a history of type I diabetes and stress-related sleep difficulties. Treatment included cognitive-behavioral methods and hypnotic relaxation therapy. Results of this case example and other controlled research suggest that hypnotic relaxation therapy is well accepted, results in good compliance, and serves as a useful adjunctive to cognitive-behavioral intervention for sleep problems.

J Clin Psychol. 2010 Nov;66(11):1205-15. Perfect MM, Elkins GR. Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies, University of Arizona, 1430 E. 2nd St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. mperfect@email.arizona.edu

Psychological stress and psychosomatic treatment: major impact on serious blood disorders?



Objective: To demonstrate evidence of possible major impacts of psychological stress and psychosomatic interventions on myeloproliferative blood disorders and develop new approaches for the unification and quantified analysis of stress and psychosomatic treatments. Methods: This 3.5- year longitudinal study was based upon the regular blood tests of a person with myelofibrosis who experienced severe and repeated work-related psychological stress and was subjected to psychosomatic treatment in the form of regular (~4 h per day) self-hypnosis sessions. Statistical data analysis was conducted on the basis of an introduced concept of generalized stress that mathematically unifies psychological stress and psychosomatic treatment. Results: Severe stress and psychosomatic treatment were statistically shown to have a major (dominant) impact on blood platelet counts well described by an exponential dependence on cumulative levels of generalized stress. The typical relaxation time for the impacts of both stress and treatment was shown to be ~2 months. Only ~12% of the total variation in platelet counts could be attributed to factors other than psychological stress and psychosomatic treatment. The psychosomatic intervention resulted in a consistent reduction of high platelet counts from ~1,400 × 10(9) l(-1) to approximately the middle of the normal range, with other blood parameters being either approximately stable or showing indications of a strengthening immune system. Conclusions: Our findings give hope for a possible development of psychosomatic treatments of at least some blood disorders. They also indicate a highly instrumental role of platelets in the quantified analysis of stress, psychosomatic interventions, and their neuroimmunological pathways.

Neuroimmunomodulation. 2011;18(3):171-83. Epub 2011 Feb 9. Gramotnev DK, Gramotnev G. Centre for Psychosomatic Treatment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld., Australia.

On the history of dissociative identity disorders in Germany.



Full title: On the history of dissociative identity disorders in Germany: the doctor Justinus Kerner and the girl from Orlach, or possession as an "exchange of the self".

The history of hypnosis is closely linked to the theme of possession; one such link is that the forerunner of hypnosis, animal magnetism, replaced exorcism in 1775 when Franz Anton Mesmer testified against Father Johann Joseph Gassner's exorcism. Modern authors have noted remarkable similarities between states of possession and dissociation. The treatment of possession by animal magnetism and exorcism represents the special romantic-magnetic therapy of the German medical doctor Justinus Kerner in the early 19th century. This article describes the man,his methods, and his thinking and presents one of his most famous case studies, the girl from Orlach, which, by today's standards, was a true case of dissociative identity disorder (DID). This article describes how contemporary principles of treatment were used and controversial issues about the nature and causes of DID were discussed 175 years ago.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Jan;59(1):82-102. Peter B. University of Munich, Germany. Burkhard-Peter@t-online.de

Turning Shyness into Popularity



by Tim Brunson, PhD

Occasionally I talk to a person who is excessively shy. They feel very uncomfortable around groups of people as they absolutely are certain that everyone is focused on them – and that it must be because something is wrong with them. This leads to a very stressful situation. Many people who have these feelings have problems sleeping and may even develop numerous stress-related health disorders. When a person suffers from excessive shyness, they often find that they are also limiting their careers and preventing themselves from developing rewarding relationships. Fortunately,for many people this is an issue that can be resolved with outstanding results.

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Clinical hypnosis with a Little League baseball population.



Full title: Clinical hypnosis with a Little League baseball population: performance enhancement and resolving traumatic experiences.

A model for the use of clinical hypnosis with a Little League population was proposed and outlined with dual emphasis: performance enhancement and resolving traumatic experiences. The Performance Enhancement Training Model was developed to enhance performance with this non-patient population. It employed clinical hypnosis to bring to fruition recommendations made by coaches to enhance players' batting proficiency. The second emphasis of the proposed model focused on the resolution of involuntary maladaptive habits secondary to a traumatic experience that impede or compromise optimum performance. Included in this category were detrimental defensive habits "at the plate" after a beaming by a pitch and detrimental defensive habits "on the field" after being hit by a batted ball.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2011 Jan;53(3):183-91. Iglesias A, Iglesias A. PhDAlex@aol.com

Make Worrying at Thing of the Past and Free your Future



by Tim Brunson, PhD

If you are overly obsessed about what may or may not happen tomorrow, you are totally missing the enjoyment of living each day of your wonderful life and depriving yourself of the excitement that your future may bring. Worrying never solved anything. In fact, it is probably is responsible for making your worst fears a reality.

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VS Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization



The Difference that Self-Confidence Brings



by Tim Brunson, PhD

I want to start out by saying that it is okay for you to read this article. I know that you will get something out of it and that you are capable of reading it in its entirety. Of course, most people already know this. Clearly they don't need my permission. However, there are others who seem to always doubt that they have the capability – and the right – to face life's obstacles no matter how small and insignificant.

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Get Rid of Your Panic Attacks Forever



by Tim Brunson, PhD

Something happens that should not have bothered you. You see a car accident, hear a loud noise, or even possibly nothing at all occurs other than you just finished a cup of coffee. However, your body is reacting as if you have received a threat to your life. Your heart is racing, you breathing quickens, and you feel that you are just about to have a heart attack. Yet, you absolutely know that your reaction is illogical and should have never happened. You are having a panic attack.

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Eliminate Stress and Begin Enjoying Life



by Tim Brunson, PhD

When you perceive that the difficulty of a situation exceeds your capabilities, then your body goes through a reaction called stress. While in some cases stress may excite and even motivate you to do your best, it can also become a negative factor and challenge your ability to be healthy, happy, and successful in life.

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Guilt is not a Requirement



by Tim Brunson, PhD

It is difficult to live a life without some form of regret. By the time that you reach adolescence, you probably have developed a substantial list of things you wish you hadn't said, hadn't done, or failed to say or do. Then by the time you reach your middle age years or even later in life, that list seems to be almost encyclopedic in size. Furthermore, we often have others – who may think that they are well-meaning – who communicate by telling us that the reason that we need to do or say something is to satisfy others. And, if we don't, we will be sorry later. Yes, parents, teachers, and preachers show their concern for us by installing the most damaging and long-lasting feelings of guilt.

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Surviving Grief and Moving on with your Life



by Tim Brunson, PhD

Grieving is a natural process, which I never thought I would experience personally. Of course, I know that that was never true. Whether it involves the loss of a precious pet, a friend, a very dear loved one, or a close family member, if it hasn't happened to you yet, it will eventually.

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Medications and Treatments for Anxiety



by Tim Brunson, PhD

When excessive worry interferes with your ability to function, then you medical doctors or psychologists may determine that you are suffering from an anxiety. If you do not respond to psychotherapy or counseling, medical doctors may prescript one of several medications. I've researched these meds and wish to share with you what I found out.

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A Practice-Based Comparison of Brief Cognitive Behavioural Treatment.



Full title: A Practice-Based Comparison of Brief Cognitive Behavioural Treatment, Two Kinds of Hypnosis and General Anaesthesia in Dental Phobia.

Background: A practice-based study was carried out to assess the comparative effectiveness and acceptability of standardised hypnosis, hypnosis with individualised imagery, cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) and generalanaesthesia (GA) in the treatment of dental phobia. Methods: A 4-group design was used with 4 repeated measurement occasions. Of an initial total of 137 dental phobics, 77 completed the study with sample sizes of between 14 and 29 patients in the 4 groups. Participants completed questionnaires of dental anxiety at the beginning of the trial, before and after the first dental appointment and again before the second dental appointment a week later. Results: Standardised hypnosis evidenced a significantly higher rate of premature termination of treatment than CBT. The completer analysis showed a significant reduction of dental anxiety after CBT and individualised hypnosis compared to the GA condition. The intent-to-treat analysis showed significant improvement only after CBT. Conclusions: The results suggest that CBT is the treatment of choice in dental phobia when taking both effectiveness and acceptability into account.

Psychother Psychosom. 2011 Mar 3;80(3):159-165. Wannemueller A, Joehren P, Haug S, Hatting M, Elsesser K, Sartory G. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany.

4 Ways to Get Over Trauma



Somatic Experiencing with Brian Mahan



Abreaction for conversion disorder: systematic review with meta-analysis.



BACKGROUND: The value of drug interviews in the treatment of conversion disorder is at present unknown. AIMS: To review all the available papers published in English that report on the use of drug interviews for treating conversion/dissociative disorder. METHOD: Databases (including EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO) were searched from 1920 to 2009. Selected publications had to report on the use of drug interviews in people diagnosed with a conversion/dissociative disorder. Qualitative and quantitative data were extracted. Predictors of a positive response were ascertained using meta-analytic techniques. RESULTS: Fifty-five papers meeting inclusion criteria were identified. No studies compared the intervention with a suitable control group. However, two studies reported high response rates when drug interview was used in individuals with treatment-resistant conversion disorder. In the meta-analysis, the use of suggestion and occurrence of emotional catharsis during the interview were positively associated with recovery. Combining two medications and comorbid psychiatric disorder were negatively associated with recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence for effectiveness of drug interviews is of poor quality but it may be of benefit in the treatment of acute and treatment-resistant conversion disorder. A proactive approach during the interview, making suggestions the individual will respond, could influence outcome. Comorbid psychiatric disorder should be treated conventionally. Experimental studies to determine efficacy are required.

Br J Psychiatry. 2010 Aug;197:91-5. Poole NA, Wuerz A, Agrawal N. St Bartholomew's Hospital, East London Foundation Trust, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, UK. norman.poole@googlemail.com

Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults.



Prazosin is recommended for treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-associated nightmares. Level A. Image Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is recommended for treatment of nightmare disorder. Level A. Systematic Desensitization and Progressive Deep Muscle Relaxation training are suggested for treatment of idiopathic nightmares. Level B. Venlafaxine is not suggested for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares. Level B. Clonidine may be considered for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares. Level C. The following medications may be considered for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares, but the data are low grade and sparse: trazodone, atypical antipsychotic medications, topiramate, low dose cortisol, fluvoxamine, triazolam and nitrazepam, phenelzine, gabapentin, cyproheptadine, and tricyclic antidepressants. Nefazodone is not recommended as first line therapy for nightmare disorder because of the increased risk of hepatotoxicity. Level C. The following behavioral therapies may be considered for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares based on low-grade evidence: Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy (ERRT); Sleep Dynamic Therapy; Hypnosis; Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); and the Testimony Method. Level C. The following behavioral therapies may be considered for treatment of nightmare disorder based on low-grade evidence: Lucid Dreaming Therapy and Self-Exposure Therapy. Level C No recommendation is made regarding clonazepam and individual psychotherapy because of sparse data.

J Clin Sleep Med. 2010 Aug 15;6(4):389-401. Aurora RN, Zak RS, Auerbach SH, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Maganti RK, Ramar K, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Lamm CI, Morgenthaler TI; Standards of Practice Committee; American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

On the history of dissociative identity disorders in Germany...



FULL TITLE: On the history of dissociative identity disorders in Germany: the doctor Justinus Kerner and the girl from Orlach, or possession as an "exchange of the self".

The history of hypnosis is closely linked to the theme of possession; one such link is that the forerunner of hypnosis, animal magnetism, replaced exorcism in 1775 when Franz Anton Mesmer testified against Father Johann Joseph Gassner's exorcism. Modern authors have noted remarkable similarities between states of possession and dissociation. The treatment of possession by animal magnetism and exorcism represents the special romantic-magnetic therapy of the German medical doctor Justinus Kerner in the early 19th century. This article describes the man, his methods, and his thinking and presents one of his most famous case studies, the girl from Orlach, which, by today's standards, was a true case of dissociative identity disorder (DID). This article describes how contemporary principles of treatment were used and controversial issues about the nature and causes of DID were discussed 175 years ago.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Jan;59(1):82-102. Peter B. University of Munich, Germany. Burkhard-Peter@t-online.de

A new hypnotic technique for treating combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder/



Full Title: A new hypnotic technique for treating combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a prospective open study.

Many combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an olfactory component to their traumatic memories that might be utilized by a technique called hypnotherapeutic olfactory conditioning (HOC). Thirty-six outpatients with chronic PTSD, featuring resistant olfactory-induced flashbacks, were treated with six 1.5-hour sessions using hypnosis. The authors used the revised Impact of Events Scale (IES-R), Beck Depression Inventory, and Dissociative Experiences Scale as outcome measures. Significant reductions in symptomatology were recorded by the end of the 6-week treatment period for the IES-R, as well as for the Beck Depression Inventory and the Dissociative Experiences Scale; 21 (58%) of the subjects responded to treatment by a reduction of 50% or more on the IES-R. Improvement was maintained at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. Use of medication was curtailed. HOC shows potential for providing benefit to individuals suffering from PTSD with olfactory components.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2010 Jul;58(3):316-28. Abramowitz EG, Lichtenberg P. Mental Health Division, Israel Defense Forces, Israel. eitanmd@zahav.net.il

Long-term follow-up of self-hypnosis training for recurrent headaches: what the children say.



The author sent surveys to 178 consecutive youths previously referred for hypnosis for headaches. The survey sought current status of headaches: treatment, application of self-hypnosis, headache intensity, frequency, duration after self-hypnosis, generalization of self-hypnosis to other problems, and attitudes regarding self-hypnosis and life stresses. Of 134 delivered surveys, 52 were returned complete. Years after treatment, 85% (44/52) reported continued relief with self-hypnosis, 44% (23/52) reported decreased headache frequency, 31% (16/52) noted decreased severity, and 56% (29/52) reported that self-hypnosis reduced headache intensity. Many (26/52) emphasized the value of self-hypnosis to life stresses. In children and adolescents, self-hypnosis is associated with significant improvement of headaches and with an enduring positive effect for many years following training. Results suggest common and spontaneous generalizability of self-hypnosis by young people to modulation of other problems in their lives.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2010 Oct;58(4):417-32. Kohen DP. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.

Rapid remission of anorexia nervosa and unconscious communication.



An alternate framework for thinking about anorexia treatment is presented with a treatment approach that results in prompt remission of anorexia symptoms. Prior treatment of eating disorders using hypnosis is reviewed. A case example illustrating the method is followed by a discussion. The process is described for teaching clients how to nullify the anorexia symptom complex when it is reactivated.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2010 Apr;52(4):319-33. Walsh BJ. affinity@bigplanet.com

Using Hypnosis as Adjunct Care in Mental Health Nursing.



Although hypnosis was accepted in 1958 by the American Medical Association as an adjunct treatment, it remains an underused modality for alleviation of clients' suffering. This hesitancy to apply established practices that show efficacy in patient care may be due to a general lack of cognizance about the therapeutic benefits of hypnosis or a reluctance to learn skills based on preconceptions about hypnosis itself. The purpose of this article is to provide evidence of the efficacy of hypnosis as an adjunct treatment in the healing professions and explain hypnosis in a manner consistent with the core values of nursing as defined by the American Nurses Association. Implications for mental health nursing practice will be explored.

J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2010 Aug 23:1-4. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20100730-05. Mottern R.

Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults.



Prazosin is recommended for treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-associated nightmares. Level A. Image Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is recommended for treatment of nightmare disorder. Level A. Systematic Desensitization and Progressive Deep Muscle Relaxation training are suggested for treatment of idiopathic nightmares. Level B. Venlafaxine is not suggested for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares. Level B. Clonidine may be considered for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares. Level C. The following medications may be considered for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares, but the data are low grade and sparse: trazodone, atypical antipsychotic medications, topiramate, low dose cortisol, fluvoxamine, triazolam and nitrazepam, phenelzine, gabapentin, cyproheptadine, and tricyclic antidepressants. Nefazodone is not recommended as first line therapy for nightmare disorder because of the increased risk of hepatotoxicity. Level C. The following behavioral therapies may be considered for treatment of PTSD-associated nightmares based on low-grade evidence: Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy (ERRT); Sleep Dynamic Therapy; Hypnosis; Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); and the Testimony Method. Level C. The following behavioral therapies may be considered for treatment of nightmare disorder based on low-grade evidence: Lucid Dreaming Therapy and Self-Exposure Therapy. Level C No recommendation is made regarding clonazepam and individual psychotherapy because of sparse data.

J Clin Sleep Med. 2010 Aug 15;6(4):389-401. Aurora RN, Zak RS, Auerbach SH, Casey KR, Chowdhuri S, Karippot A, Maganti RK, Ramar K, Kristo DA, Bista SR, Lamm CI, Morgenthaler TI; Standards of Practice Committee; American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

Ethnic differences in trichotillomania



Full Title: Ethnic differences in trichotillomania: phenomenology, interference, impairment, and treatment efficacy.

In this Internet study, we explore differences among minority and Caucasian participants in the phenomenology of, interference and impairment related to, and perceived efficacy of treatments for trichotillomania (TTM) symptoms. A demographic difference was found for number of children only. Results indicate that the minority sample was less likely to report pulling from their eyebrows and eyelashes than the Caucasian sample. Minorities were less likely to report increased tension before a pulling episode. Minorities reported high levels of TTM interference with home management but Caucasians reported higher TTM interference with their academic life. Caucasians with TTM reported higher daily stress than their minority counterparts. Although minorities were less likely to utilize treatment, no significant differences were found for treatment improvement. This Internet study sheds important light on differences in TTM symptoms among minorities and Caucasians. The lack of economic and education differences between groups is a strength of this research.

J Anxiety Disord. 2010 Aug;24(6):553-8. Neal-Barnett A, Flessner C, Franklin ME, Woods DW, Keuthen NJ, Stein DJ. Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA. aneal@kent.edu

Systemic hypnosis with depressed individuals and their families.



Historically, depression has been considered almost exclusively from an intrapersonal viewpoint, focusing almost entirely on the depressed individual in treatment. In this article, the focus is shifted to an interpersonal view of depression, emphasizing the role of family and cultural influences on the evolution of depression and its successful treatment. Patterns of hypnosis that can be applied in a systemic treatment framework are described and illustrated with case examples.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2010 Apr;58(2):222-46. Loriedo C, Torti C. University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy. c.loriedo@agora.it

Hypnotically facilitated exposure response prevention therapy for an OIF veteran with OCD.



The highly stressful conditions of a war zone may exacerbate or trigger a wide variety of symptoms including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) once a service member returns home. Service members and new veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars present to treatment with multiple psychosocial concerns and co-morbid psychiatric conditions. Evidence-based treatments including exposure based therapies are commonly recommended for use with returning veterans. Although studies support the efficacy of Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for treating OCD, eligibility for these studies limits participation to subjects who self-report a well-defined, circumscribed complaint. This approach is not typical of clinic clients who, more often than not, report multiple psychological issues. The following individual case study demonstrates how integrating hypnosis facilitated the cognitive-behavioral ERP therapy and treatment for a patient suffering from OCD.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2010 Jul;53(1):19-26. Proescher EJ. University of Illinois Chicago, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 6644 N. Rockwell Street, Chicago, IL 60645, USA. eproescher@hotmail.com

Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy for Healing Past Injuries, Pain and Mind-body Conditions. No. 3.



by Brian Green, CCHT

To continue, a female client in her late forties rapidly developed crippling arthritis in her hands. She saw an MD, and he took blood, and identified Sudden Onset Arthritis. I knew the huge feelings of helplessness she was dealing with regarding current events in her life. Subsequently processing them in trance, her arthritis diminished to insignificance. Informing her MD on her follow up visit, He frowned and looked confused, and said, "The lab results must be erroneous, you have the chemical markers for Arthritis in your blood." Later I said to her, "The blood test was probably correct, but I relieved the emotional stress that was producing the markers." Then I looked up the condition and found it was described as occurring following a prolonged period, or an acute episode, of stress! This female was also having severe Bronchial Asthmatic attacks. She was informed both conditions required lifetime medication. The attacks proved to be a secondary phobic cycle based on a fear response. Feeling helpless and powerless, she would become scared, and unconsciously depress her breathing. Consciously noticing this, she would become scared, (causing her to unconsciously hold her breath further while trying to force herself to breathe). Powerless to initiate a breath as her throat closed, she would panic, further increasing the intensity and rapidity of the cycle. Interestingly enough, this acted as an avoidance/deflection mechanism. The underlying issue feelings became displaced/projected onto the symptoms as an irresolvable loop, blocking awareness. A not uncommon defense in depressed and/or overloaded persons. Connection and resolution of the primary current issues in trance gives a partial healing. But usually the secondary cycle needs work too. In this case, teaching her in trance to visualize relaxing and breathing in when scared. Once the new sequence was initiated and established by repetition, this was followed by visualizing successful accomplishment in future, bringing up the fear feelings, and then using her new coping skills. Future Positive Rehearsal. No further difficulties, despite being a heavy smoker!

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Psychogenic paralysis and recovery after motor cortex transcranial magnetic stimulation.



Psychogenic paralysis presents a real treatment challenge. Despite psychotherapy, physiotherapy, antidepressants, acupuncture, or hypnosis, the outcome is not always satisfactory with persistent symptoms after long-term follow-up. We conducted a retrospective study to assess clinical features and to propose an alternative treatment based on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Seventy patients (44 F/26 M, mean age: 24.7 +/- 16.6 years) experienced paraparesis (57%), monoparesis (37%), tetraparesis (3%), or hemiparesis (3%). A precipitating event was observed in 42 patients, primarily as a psychosocial event or a physical injury. An average of 30 stimuli over the motor cortex contralateral to the corresponding paralysis was delivered at low frequency with a circular coil. The rTMS was effective in 89% of cases, with a significantly better outcome for acute rather than chronic symptoms. In conclusion, motor cortex rTMS seem to be very effective in patients with psychogenic paralysis and could be considered a useful therapeutic option.

Mov Disord. 2010 Jul 30;25(10):1501-4. Chastan N, Parain D. Department of Neurophysiology, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France. nathalie.chastan@chu-rouen.fr

Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy for Healing Injuries, Pain and Mind-body Conditions. No. 2.



by Brian Green, CCHT

I will continue with a case of Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is an inflammation of a cranial nerve that innervates the face and jaw. Known to be excruciatingly painful. The condition has been ascribed possibly to a virus. This was a male client in his mid-thirties who came for an unrelated issue. Noticing his face was asymmetric during my intake, as if he had had a minor stroke. I named the condition, and he assented it was indeed so. Three months earlier, he was on a different medication, started in a high-end hospital sobriety program, (and he was still sober). An "allergic" reaction to this medication was the presumed cause in this case.

Hypnoanalysis back to the time of onset in trance uncovered the following. "What was going on in your life at the time?" I asked. "My marriage was breaking up!" Processing/resolution of the partly suppressed and repressed feelings followed. It was an interaction between the action of the drug and his emotional nerve chemistry at the time. And perhaps a concurrent partly fused conversion symptom. (Displacement of emotional pain into physical pain). I then went on to his presenting issue. On emergence, his face was symmetrical; the pain by his report reduced 80/90%.

One week later, a small amount of pain remaining, I enquired in trance. "Tell me how the nerve appears when you picture it." "It is all pink, except a small circular gray "dead" patch that was the focal point of the nerve damage." I guided him to visualize it diminishing in size, changing color to a matching pink, the color of the healthy nerve tissue, etc. while simultaneously using hypno-linguistics, offsetting double binds, etc. as demonstrated in my hypnosis manual, to bring the damage and pain down progressively and in future to permanent zero. On return, two weeks later, no further treatment was necessary. I believe it would be hard to find an MD. who would believe Trigeminal Neuralgia could be accessible to a psychological and mental healing. If this man had indeed a coexisting viral infection, it was subsidiary or irrelevant.

In my experience also, a huge range of medical/physical problems can be primarily or partly the result of non-physiological factors. This particular area is a sub-specialty of mine. Hypnotherapy reveals that any physical, (or psychological), condition can have any source, so presuming medical generalities to be gospel only limits the hypno-practitioner's exploration unnecessarily. It is more useful to have a range of methods/tools such as hypno-analysis, regression, hypnotherapeutic healing and direct symptom alteration or removal available, than to rely primarily on information from medical or psychological "authorities". Not only unhelpful at times, they can prejudice the practitioner's mind and preclude other avenues of investigation. Medical, (and psychological) information may be a guide, but should not be given unquestioned credibility; it's just another set of potentially useful information to be tested out. There is a current growing tendency in both fields to analyze, identify and label difficulties, concretize and convert them into "factual" things, rather than ongoing processes that may be available for change. Openness and flexibility are the required qualities to be stressed. "Deal with what emerges." was Gil Boyne's phrase. He has a video of uncovering fear of rejection as a source of painful Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), and one of a fear of maternal castration as the source of a severe stutter! So much for speech therapy in this case!

Another client, in his mid-fifties, had painful tendonitis and joint inflammation, in the right carpal/metacarpal wrist and thumb area, subsequent to putting his hand out to break a fall. He had tried every available medical remedy without success, including finally, a surgical resection of a tendon. In my intake, his employment was identified as a court reporter. I said, "You were a court reporter, and you were injured in the precise area absolutely required for your job, where you hold an implement to write, and it would not heal. You were disabled, and had to leave and get retraining. What a coincidence!" This time hypnoanalysis uncovered the following. He had wanted to leave his employment due being trapped in irresolvable difficulties produced by an aging judge in his hierarchy, who had become an arbitrary tyrant. He was unable to do so without losing many years of insurance/pension benefits. So he was trapped. But the injury allowed a medical release while avoiding these negative consequences. Unfortunately, his subconscious, only being aware of the timeless now, had continued maintaining the pain and injury long past the time needed, and presumably would have continued indefinitely without my intervention. After the insight gained from uncovering, suggested healing organized around the redundancy of maintaining the injury was communicated to the now connected conscious and other-than-conscious mind. Emerging from trance, he picked up a sheet of paper, and held it suspended between his right thumb and forefinger, saying, "This is the first time I have been able to do that for 2 years."

Incidentally, this relates to how the mind can prevent healing, as well as being directed to accomplish it. After two similar cases, I surmised it was not possible to reduce the pain and heal difficulties where legal monetary damages were pending, even if the case had been won. This was true despite a strong conscious desire for relief. Another hypnotherapist, and a couple of texts confirmed these facts. It appears the fears of letting go of control; until the money is actually in the person's possession, predominate. I wonder if deposit in their lawyers account is adequate, or only actual receipt into their own!

To show how different the causations of similar appearing conditions, viz joint pain, may be, here is a case of bursitis, painful inflammation of the shoulder joint. This gentleman had already healed shooting pains down his leg after uncovering a deeply buried teenage desire to kick his father in the testicles, for retaliation due to feeling his father was, (unintentionally as it appeared in retrospect), emotionally emasculating him by rendering his teenage self impotent. In a later session, he informed me that he was in great pain due to a flare-up of his long-standing chronic bursitis. I recalled Arthur Janov, in the first edition of "The Primal Scream." stating that an unexpressed anger can remain as a permanent stored tension in the body, and he used the desire to punch someone being stored in the arm as his example. Guided by an inspired guess, I took him back to that past state of mind in trance; and probed "At the time you wanted to kick him, did you also have an urge to punch him?" "Yes," he exclaimed immediately, as he re-experienced it. Then he said, "A ball of violet energy/light is emerging from my shoulder .. .. is moving and hanging in front of my eyes," where it remained for a few moments or so. On his return, he said his shoulder was still sore for a couple of days, (the inflammation perhaps needed time to subside). The pain then faded, and has not returned.

In my next and last casebook, I will detail relief of Acid Reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, (IBS) Sudden Onset Arthritis, among others.

For more information visit www.MindMagic123.com.

Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy for Healing Past Injuries, Pain and Mind-body Conditions. No. 1.



by Brian Green, CCHT

There is a question on my intake form, "Do you have any residual pain from work, automobile, or surgery related injuries." This can lead me to aspects of pain and healing I have encountered, but not seen mentioned in the general hypnosis literature. That blocked unfelt emotions, created at the time of a physical trauma, may remain locked in, preventing full physiological healing. And unexpressed feelings of physical hurt may produce a similar result. Some medical research studies show that persons who do not take pain medications heal faster. It figures. For those clients who can use hypnotic processes well, a simple resolution can be obtained with regressive and other techniques.

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Preferences for hypnotic imagery for hot-flash reduction: a brief communication.



The purpose of this brief report is to identify imagery preferences of women receiving hypnotherapy to alleviate hot flashes. As part of a larger study, 51 breast cancer survivors were asked to identify their own personal preferences for imagery for reducing hot flashes. Most of the participants identified personal imagery associated with coolness; none of the participants selected imagery for warmth or heat. The most widely used was imagery involving water associated with coolness (27.0%). It is recommended that clinicians using hypnosis for reduction of hot flashes attend to patients' preferences as specific imagery may moderate the effectiveness of hypnosis for hot flashes.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2010 Jul;58(3):345-9. Elkins G, Marcus J, Bunn J, Perfect M, Palamara L, Stearns V, Dove J. Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, USA. Gary_Elkins@baylor.edu

The management of blood phobia and a hypersensitive gag reflex by hypnotherapy: a case report



Coping with a hypersensitive gag reflex can be a cause for concern for both the patient and the operator. This report describes a case of blood phobia directed solely towards the oral cavity, linked with the inability to tolerate dentures due to a hypersensitive gag reflex. Management by hypnotherapy using a systematic desensitization technique allowed for extraction of teeth and permanent elimination of the gagging problem.

Dent Update. 2002 Mar;29(2):70-4. Noble S. South Birmingham Community Hea lth NHS Trust.

A meta-analysis of hypnosis in the treatment of depressive symptoms: a brief communication



The efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of depressive symptoms was subjected to a meta-analysis. Studies were identified using Google Scholar and 6 electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsiTri, PsychLit, Embase, and the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Review Group (CCDAN). The keywords used were (a) hypnosis, (b) hypnotherapy, (c) mood disorder, (d) depression, and (e) dysthymia. Six studies qualified and were analyzed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software package. The combined effect size of hypnosis for depressive symptoms was 0.57. Hypnosis appeared to significantly improve symptoms of depression (p < .001). Hypnosis appears to be a viable nonpharmacologic intervention for depression. Suggestions for future research are discussed.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Oct;57(4):431-42. Shih M, Yang YH, Koo M. Nanhua University, Chiayi, Taiwan.

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