Clinical Findings

 

bullet Chronic pain patients reduce their physician visits by 36%.  The Clinical Journal of Pain, Volume 2, pages 305-310, 1991
bullet There is approximately a 50% reduction in visits to an HMO after a relaxation-response based intervention resulting in estimated significant cost savings.  Behavioral Medicine, Volume 16, pages 165-173, 1990 
bullet Open-heart surgery patients have fewer post-operative complications.  Behavioral Medicine, Volume 5, pages 111-117, 1989 
bullet Women with severe PMS have a 57% reduction in physical and psychological symptoms.   Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume 75, pages 649-655, April, 1990
bullet 80% of hyper tense patients have lowered blood pressure and decreased medications -16% are able to discontinue all of their medications. These results lasted at least 3 years.   Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Volume 9, pages 316-324, 1989
bullet Women with severe PMS have a 57% reduction in physical and psychological symptoms.  Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume 75, pages 649-655, April 1990
bullet75% of insomnia patients become normal sleepers and 90 percent reduce or entirely eliminate sleep medications.   Behavioral Medicine, Volume 5, pages 111-117, 1989 - Similar and improved statistics from: The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 100, pages 212-216, 1996  
bullet Chronic pain patients reduce their physician visits by 36%.   The Chronic Journal of Pain, Volume 2, pages 305-310, 1991
bullet Infertile women have a 34% conception rate, (compared to only 20% with in-vitro fertilization), and decreased levels of stress, anxiety and anger.   Fertility and Sterility, Volume 58, pages 144-147, 1992
bullet High school students exposed to a relaxation response-based curriculum significantly increased their self-esteem.   The Journal of Research and Development in Education, Volume 27, pages 226-231 , 1994
bulletHypnosis was more effective than a control group (17 vs. .5 pounds on follow-up) -  Investigating the effects of hypnosis in weight loss for 60 females, at least 20% were overweight and not involved in other treatment.   Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Volume: 54 489-492
 

The success rate for Clinical Hypnosis is extremely high.    A survey of psychotherapy literature revealed the following recovery rates:

Psychoanalysis:

38% recovery after 600 sessions

Behavior Therapy:

72% recovery after 22 sessions

HypnoCounseling

93% Recovery after 6 sessions

Source: American Health Magazine  

 

Interesting facts about hypnosis from current research findings.

As of December, 2004 there are more than 3,000 clinical research studies having to do with hypnosis and its benefits currently being conducted worldwide?              (According to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

Suggestions given in a hypnotic state, even once, can produce actions in human beings that are the same type of actions that would have resulted from more long-term conditioning and practice.       (According to studies done at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London,.)

In a research study on Self-hypnosis for relapse prevention training with chronic drug/alcohol users, individuals who played self-hypnosis audiotapes "at least 3 to 5 times a week," at 7-week follow-up, reported the highest levels of self-esteem and serenity, and the least anger/impulsivity, in comparison to the minimal-practice and control groups.      (American  Journal Clinical  Hypnosis 2004 Apr;46(4):281-97)

In a research study done with 60 college student volunteers, using hypnosis with ego-enhancement suggestions showed "significantly dramatic effects" in brain-wave patterns, subjective sense of self-confidence, and test scores.      (Spring, 2004 at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona) 

"Hypnosis is more than just a party trick; it measurably changes how the brain works," says John Gruzelier, a research psychologist at Imperial College in London. "Hypnosis significantly affects the activity in a part of the brain responsible for detecting and responding to errors, an area that controls higher level executive functions."  The finding is one of the first to indicate a biological mechanism underpinning the experience of hypnosis. “This explains why, under hypnosis, people can do outrageous things that ordinarily they wouldn’t dream of doing,” says Gruzelier, who presented his study at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival in Exeter, UK. Gruzelier hopes it will also benefit emerging research showing, for example, that hypnosis can help cancer patients deal with painful treatments.    (As reported by NewScientist.com news service)

Research using positron emission tomography (PET) scans, shows that hypnosis might alleviate pain by decreasing the activity of brain areas involved in the experience of suffering. Scientists have found that hypnosis reduced the activity of the anterior cingulate cortex, an area known to be involved in pain, but did not affect the activity of the somatosensory cortex, where the sensations of pain are processed.      (As reported by NewScientist.com news service)

Clinical trials of therapeutic hypnosis confirm its potential benefits. Christina Liossi, a psychologist at the University of Wales in Swansea, recently conducted a study of 80 cancer patients aged 6 to 16. She found that those under hypnosis experienced far less pain during treatments than control children, who simply talked to the researchers normally.    (As reported by NewScientist.com news service)

According to published results of clinical studies (Am J Clin Hypn. 2004 Apr), the use of hypnosis facilitates a more uncomplicated birth process.  In a separate research study done by University of Florida counseling psychologist Paul Schauble, it was also found that women who learn hypnosis before delivering babies suffer fewer complications, need less medication and are more likely to have healthier babies than are women without hypnosis.  Schauble's first study involved adolescents getting prenatal care at a public health clinic. A group of 20 patients who received hypnosis preparation were compared with 20 who were given supportive counseling and 20 patients in a control group who received only the standard prenatal care. None of the women who received hypnosis required surgical intervention in their deliveries, compared with 12 in the supportive counseling group and eight in the control group, he said. "Patients who are prepared for labor and delivery in hypnosis are more likely to absorb and benefit from information because they are in a relaxed, highly focused state," he said. 

In an ongoing pilot study being done by University of Florida counseling psychologist Paul Schauble, preliminary results show hypnotized patients with hypertension are more easily able to make lifestyle improvements that can lower blood pressure.

A study being done by a team of University of Florida researchers is finding that learning self-hypnosis gives a patient greater control over the stress, anxiety and pain of medical operations and childbirth, overall. "Training patients in hypnosis prior to undergoing surgery is a way of helping them develop a sense of control over their stress, discomfort and anxiety," says Dr. Paul Schauble, psychologist. "It also helps them better understand what they can do to bring about a more satisfying and rapid recovery."  He also said, "We've found, in working with individual patients, that they often feel literally stripped of control when they go into the hospital. The surgeon may do a good job of explaining the surgery, but patients' anxiety may make it difficult for them to absorb or comprehend. This can result in undue apprehension that can create complications or prolonged recovery."

"Children make excellent subjects for hypnosis because they spend more time using their imaginations," says Florida counseling psychologist Paul Schauble. "But with practice most adults can learn how to enter into a therapeutic hypnotic state quite easily as well."  

Hypnosis and Migraines:

A MIGRANE is a debilitating form of a headache. Many people suffer from migraines. Various triggers can produce the onset of a migraine. However, reducing the likelihood of a migraine occurring and getting rid of one once it occurs, can be challenging. Studies have been conducted showing that hypnotherapy can be quite beneficial to the migraine sufferer. In many studies, hypnosis has been shown to be more beneficial than medications.  (Natural News.com)

Common triggers of migraines include hormonal changes, stress, food, changes in sleep patterns, medications, and changes in the surrounding environment. Symptoms of migraines vary from person to person, but many people report moderate to severe pain that pulsates, worsens with physical activity and interferes with day-to-day activity, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and/or sound, and sometimes experiencing auras. A migraine can last for 4 to 72 hours, but frequency varies greatly.

One study compared the effect of hypnotherapy versus the prescription medication
prochlorperazine (Stemetil). The study consisted of 47 participants who reported feedback every month for a year. They reported number of attacks per month, severity of attacks, and complete remission. Results of the study showed that those who received hypnotherapy reported far fewer migraine attacks compared to those who received medication. Out of 23 participants who received hypnotherapy, 10 of them ceased to experience migraines. Out of the 24 participants who used medication, 3 of them ceased to experience migraines.

Another study reported the benefits of behavioral therapy. These approaches include relaxation, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and hypnosis. Hypnosis can help migraine sufferers avoid triggers such as controlling stress and avoiding certain foods.

Two hypnotherapy techniques used in treating migraines include the hand warming and glove anesthesia. These techniques put migraine sufferers in control of their pain by helping them transfer warmth or numbness to their head where their head hurts. These techniques were shown to be more beneficial than simple relaxation exercises. This study concluded that medication is ineffective in treating chronic migraines and supports psychological treatment because there are no side effects
.

These studies show that hypnotherapy and natural methods of treating migraine headaches are more effective than using medication. The fact that hypnosis has no side effects and many prescription medications have many side effects makes hypnotherapy a more natural and safe approach to treating migraines. In addition to no side effects, many studies have shown that the effects of hypnosis are more lasting and beneficial compared to the use of medication.

Sources:

Anderson, J.A., Basker, M.A., & Dalton, R. (1975). Migraine and hypnotherapy. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 23(1), 48-58.

Heap, M. (1988). Hypnosis: current clinical, experimental and forensic practices. Taylor & Francis.

Sandor, P.S. & Afra, J. (2007). Non-pharmacologic treatment of migraine. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 9(3), 202-205.

 

 

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