Hypnosis: placebo or nonplacebo?

Article Abstract:

Some researchers have argued that hypnosis is a process that essentially results in a placebo effect. For example, those involved in administering hypnosis have often devised elaborate props to elicit a strong expectancy in the patient prior to hypnosis. Some have argued that it is the expectations of the patient that are the influential element, not the hypnosis. The evidence in support of the idea that hypnosis is essentially a placebo is examined in this article. For purposes of this article, hypnosis is defined as ''that state or condition in which subjects are able to respond to appropriate suggestions with distortions of perception or memory.'' A placebo is defined as ''any therapy or component of therapy that is deliberately used for its nonspecific, psychological or psychophysiological effect, or that is used for its presumed specific effect, but is without specific effect for the condition being treated.'' Using this definition of placebo, almost any psychological intervention may be construed as a sort of placebo. One researcher, A. Grunbaum, has closely examined the relationship between hypnosis and placebo, and has constructed an alternative definition which considers a therapy nonplacebo if it functions according to the therapy that describes its activity. A review of the literature involving laboratory and clinical studies on placebo and hypnosis does not support the idea that hypnosis can be completely explained as a placebo effect. There is still inadequate documentation to explain the mechanism by which hypnosis operates. However, this technique has been proven to be effective as an interventional method for such conditions as agoraphobia, or as cognitive therapy for depression. Because the desired therapeutic result is achieved, hypnosis may be considered a nonplacebo for certain clinical disorders. Much clarification is still needed to understand the nature of hypnosis and the effect of placebo in clinical applications. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Placebos, Behavioral health care, Behavioral medicine

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Hypnosis and conversion disorders

Article Abstract:

Conversion disorders involve physical manifestations of problems of a psychological origin, often taking the form of paralysis or other disability. As early as 1885, the similarities between ''hysterical'' symptoms and the effects induced by hypnotic suggestion were noted by Hippolyte Bernheim and others. On the basis of this similarity, hypnosis has been used over the years, with varying degrees of success, in the treatment of conversion disorders. Patients with conversion disorders in fact tend to be more hypnotizable than others, which provides a rationale for further explorations into the role of hypnosis in conversion disorders. Hypnosis can generally be used both to reduce symptoms, by ''suggesting'' the elimination of hysterical manifestations such as loss of sensation, and to explore the historical causes of the disorder, by evoking memories concerned with the event or events triggering the symptoms. A case is presented of a woman who gradually became paralyzed, although she was not neurologically impaired. By means of hypnosis, it was learned that she harbored hostile feelings toward her mother for preventing her from knowing about her father's gravely ill condition. The case illustrates that successful therapy with hypnosis can be independent of technique, that is, whether hypnosis is used for symptom reduction or exploration. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Conversion (Psychoanalysis), Conversion disorder

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Hypnosis and psychoanalytic therapy (hypnoanalysis)

Article Abstract:

Palliative psychotherapy utilizes hypnosis to alter a patient's ego to enhance psychological well being and cure personality disorders. Hypnosis aims to improve psychological health by eliminating mentally destructive personality traits and behavior through suggestion. However. not all individuals are susceptible to hypnotic suggestion and susceptible patients sometimes provide false information to satisfy the demands of the hypnotist.

Psychotherapy, Mental suggestion, Autosuggestion

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