PositiVibes Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis - The Science

          Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy in which the client is relaxed and guided into an altered state of consciousness, usually involving an induction. It promotes therapeutic success through strategic use of positive imagery and suggestions. It is an empirically supported, clinical intervention (Lynn, Kirsch, Barabasz, Cardeña, & Patterson, 2000) that is used in the treatment of a wide variety of mental, physical, and emotional dysfunctions (Rhue, Lynn, & Kirsch, 1993). Hypnotherapy is a safe, potent, noninvasive procedure (Holroyd, 1996). It is cost-effective, reversible, and useful as an alternative to drugs or medications (Valente, 2003). Based on its efficacy, many researchers advocate for the broader use of hypnosis in both medical and psychotherapeutic applications (eg: Holroyd, 1996; Lynn et al., 2000; Valente, 2003).

          Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of phobias, addictions, mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, eating disorders, dissociative identity disorder, PTSD, pain management, somatization, other psychotic disorders, and assists in overcoming trauma (Rhue et al., 1993). All of which are conditions typically treated with powerful psychotropic drugs. Researchers have been able to show that patients experience less pain when using hypnosis exclusively or in adjunct to other treatments in severe burn patients (Patterson et al., 1992), fibromyalgia syndrome (Bernardy et al., 2011), cancer patients (Montgomery, Schnur, & Kravits, 2013), child labor (Cyna, McAuliffe, & Andrew, 2004) people dealing with chronic back pain (Jensen & Patterson, 2006), dental pain (Barber & Mayer, 1977) procedural and chronic pain (Patterson & Jensen, 2003), and frequent and reoccurring headaches (Jensen & Patterson, 2006). A meta-analysis of 18 studies by Kirsch, Montgomery, and Sapirstein (1995) found – with a mean effect size of d = 0.87 – that patient outcome efficacy was highest (top ten percent) in those using hypnosis as an adjunct to treatment as compared to non-hypnotic treatment options. The best of these effects came from obesity samples. The weight-loss effects for the obese participants who used hypnosis continued to increase 6 months after treatment and remained intact at the two year follow-up. After treatment ended, only those who utilized hypnosis continued to show improvement over time.

          It is estimated that the majority of all individuals (70%) are moderately receptive to the benefits of hypnotherapy with an additional ten to fifteen percent labeled as highly susceptible (Nadon, Laurence, & Perry, 1987). In another meta-analysis by Montgomery, DuHamel, and Reed (2000) 18 studies with 27 effect sizes were analyzed for hypnotic analgesia (pain management). Although 75% of individuals (n = 933, d = 0.74) had substantial pain relief compared to control groups, the magnitude of the effects varied greatly depending on levels (high d = 1.22; medium d = 0.64; low d = 0.10) of susceptibility. This suggests an individual’s level of susceptibility – or hypnotizability – can predict successful patient outcomes. The main assessment for hypnotizability involves a series of tests while hypnotized that check for hypnotic depth and adherence to suggestions (Ie: Harvard Group Scale for Hypnotic Susceptibility, Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C, etc). A more recent and stringent meta-analysis on the efficacy of hypnosis confirms these results (d = 0.63) for patients classified by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (Flammer & Bongartz, 2003).

          Hypnotizability is a stable and heritable personality trait. In a 25-year longitudinal study by Piccione, Hilgard, and Zimbardo (1989) they found a statistically significant stability coefficient of .64 (10-year retest), .82 (15-year retest), and .71 (25-year retest) of hypnotizability in a sample of fifty individuals. These fifty individuals did not differ significantly from the larger sample of 533. Twin studies show that hypnotizability is heritable (Lichtenberg et al., 2004). Baumen and Bul’ (1981) found a concordance rate for hypnotizability of 78.3% for monozygotic twins and 60.5% for dizygotic twins in 60 Russian pairs. Although yielding a modest index of heritability (34%), other studies have shown estimates as high as 64% (Szeleky et al., 2010). Heritability index is the influence that environment has on gene expression. A high index indicates a high level of genetic influence.

 

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