A Phenomenon Called Hypnosis, Research Paper Example

Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of the phenomenon called Hypnosis.  This is examined from a psychological perspective and sources a number of academic journals.  The paper is split into four distinct parts: (1) Background and Introduction  (2)  Purposes of Hypnosis  (3) Medical and Psychological context  (4) Conclusions.  The paper addresses the question: Why is hypnosis important in the field of psychology?

Introduction and Background

Hypnosis is in general terms a focused sleep like state of awareness. This type of deliberate placement of people into a sleep state is also called a trance. This state of mind is very important in the practical application of psychology, as a person is freed from inhibitions and the brain is receptive to more newer, open and creative ways of thinking.  In  order to achieve this state of mind you have to be guided by a professional hypnotist.  ” Milton Erickson, for example, often used a technique called confusion, in which he said things that on the surface seemed logically contradictory and yet in essence conveyed an ingenious creative truth. When patients heard these things while in a trance, they literally could not get anxious because anxiety and relaxation are mutually exclusive physiological states.”  (Raymond Lloyd Richmond, 2010).

A trance state can best be described as an altered state of consciousness.  The objective is to try and motivate you towards a specific goal, whilst under the direction of a trained hypnotist, often a doctor of psychology.  The state of mind is essentially a therapeutic setting, placing the person under hypnosis in a state of mental relaxation.  The state can be partially achieved by listening to relaxing music.  E.g., Wade’s crashing onto a beach if you live near the sea you can open the window and breathe in the sea air invoking the sense of small; all adding to your dream state– perhaps sitting on a beach in Hawaii watching waves crash onto the shore.  This simple self hypnotism transfers you from one state of mind to that of a relaxed, stress-free situation.  Sitting in the hot tub reading a book or other examples of self-induced relaxation. “The field as a whole is becoming widely recognized as a useful technique in medical, dental and psychotherapeutic settings. Research has been done with hypnosis as a form of pain control, habit control, increasing performance, achieving goals, and in many other areas.”  (Farber, 2007)

Purpose of Hypnosis

Hypnosis has many useful purposes in the practice of psychology and medicine. Hypnosis has been seen as an alternative use to drugs in the treatment of burn patients. Initial “findings indicate that hypnosis is a viable adjunct treatment for burn pain”  (Patterson, Everett, Burns, & Marvin, Oct 1992).  Hypnotherapy has also been used in the ability to lower blood pressure and more recently in dealing with irritable bowel syndromes ” 30 patients with severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome were randomly allocated to treatment with either hypnotherapy or psychotherapy and placebo. The psychotherapy patients showed a small but significant improvement in abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and general well-being but not in bowel habit. The hypnotherapy patients showed a dramatic improvement in all features, the difference between the two groups being highly significant. In the hypnotherapy group no relapses were recorded during the 3-month follow-up period, and no substitution symptoms were observed.”  (P.J. Whorwell, 1984).

Hypnosis has been widely used in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder. This has been particularly useful in helping soldiers to rehabilitate after receiving painful memories associated with the horrors of war.  Hypnosis helps to work through the painful memories and thus relive  some of the traumas of those terrible events. The memories can never be truly erased but the hypnosis can help in the reconciliation process and the ability to feel relief and come to terms with the traumatic events. ” Hypnosis can be an effective adjunct of psychotherapy by facilitating access to, and working through of, dissociated traumatic memories”.  (Spiegel & Cardeña, 1990).

Medical and Psychological context

Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of those with multiple personality disorders.  This has been somewhat controversial and the verdict is not yet in regarding the precise benefits of hypnosis in this area.  This is a question of trying to unify personalities of individuals who have generated split personality disorders. ” Clinicians disagree as to whether hypnotic interventions have a place in the treatment of multiple personality. A review of the literature suggests that many cautions against the use of hypnosis may have been overstated”  (Kluft, 1982).

The Arizona School of Psychology have been carrying out research in the applied use of hypnotherapy as an adjunct to normal medical practices.  The empirical research suggests that there is moderate support within the medical community for inclusion of hypnotherapy into normal medical practice. The initial research has been published in the International Journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis. ” medical care for anxiety related to medical and dental procedures, asthma, dermatological diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, hemorrhagic disorders, nausea and emesis in oncology, and obstetrics/gynaecology”  (Pinnell & Covino, 2000). The schools continues to make further research into this area looking at areas of wider acceptability.

Hypnosis has long been used in the management of pain and previously in this report I discussed the applicability to burns.  Medical practitioners are continuing to build upon this success and consider its’ applicability to other treatments.  Hence the role is expanding from the treatment of psychological problems into that of the medical arena.  In particular the relief of pain as an alternative to the use of drugs and the longer term side effects.  Doctors are seeing hypnosis as a valuable adjunct to their treatment portfolio and perhaps Cancer patients are amongst the highest group of patients seeking relief from pain, as other medical treatment is offered considered to be ineffective. When providing relief to cancer pain the application of  hypnosis essentially follows two directions: (i) the actual control of the pain itself and (ii) relief of the emotional pain that it brings to the individual.  ” There is a  distinct advantages of psychological techniques over somatic pain in the treatment of cancer pain i.e.  Hypnosis can control the pain without unpleasant  or destructive side effects”  (Barber, 1978).

Hypnosis has also been used to eliminate pain and reduce anxiety in pregnancy and mothers giving birth. Research has demonstrated that a significant number of woman have benefitted from a reduction in pain by the use of hypnosis.  In addition, it has been questioned whether hypnosis has been used for military purposes in the acquisition of intelligence and information from prisoners.. There is some evidence to suggest that the CIA has explored these options in combination with mind control drugs such as LSD. Nevertheless, there is no hard evidence to support these assumptions.

So in medical terms there is a considerable list[1] where hypnosis has been seen to aid medical treatments for specific illnesses.  The following are additional applications:

• The treatment of chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• The treatment and reduction of pain during childbirth.
• The reduction of the symptoms of dementia.
• Hypnotherapy may be helpful for certain symptoms of ADHD.
• The reduction of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.4
• Control of pain during dental procedures.
• Elimination or reduction of skin conditions including warts and psoriasis.
• Alleviation of symptoms association with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Conclusions

Everyone is unique in their ability to be open to hypnosis and the treatment that it offers. Some people are far more receptive to this type of treatment than others.  To obtain the best results a person needs to be willing and freely undergo the type of treatment without putting up mental barriers or constraints.  ” Every individual is unique in his or her ability to react to hypnosis. Some people are more susceptible and will benefit from the treatment more than others. When under the therapist’s influence, a client is brought to a state of consciousness that actually slows down brain waves and allows he or she to become open to suggestion, usually regarding the issue the therapist may be attempting to alleviate”  (Brittany, 2010).

Hypnosis has had considerable scientific value to medicine.  In particular those conditions that are difficult to treat by more conventional methods.  It also has had significant benefits in treating negative behaviours like smoking, taking drugs and alcoholism.  Modern researchers consider that the main value of hypnosis resides in its therapeutic value.  Hypnosis is considered to be a very natural phenomena which we all indulge in several times a day. i.e. day dreaming , watching TV and taking naps.  Almost everyone is capable being hypnotized to one degree or  another,  although willing participants produce better outcomes.  It has been estimated that 1:5 people can be placed the deep hypnotic state in the very first session.  For patients that are terminally ill  they are normally immediately receptive to hypnotic treatment, most probably because there is a ready acceptance.  There’s also the question of renewal of hope.  When you become resigned to failure of conventional treatments.

Works Cited

Barber, J. (1978). Hypnosis as a psycholical technique in the management of cancer pain. Cancer Nursing , 361.

Brittany. (2010, 3 14). Hypnosis in Psychology: A viable treatment. Retrieved 4 24, 2010, from Helping Psychology: http://helpingpsychology.com/hypnosis-in-psychology-a-viable-treatment

Farber, P. H. (2007). A Brief Introduction to Hypnosis. Hypnosis Today .

Kluft, R. P. (1982). Varieties of hypnotic interventions in the treatment of multiple personality. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. Vol 24(4), , 230-240.

P.J. Whorwell, A. P. (1984). Controlled Trial Of Hypnotherapy In The Treatment Of Severe Refractory Irritable-Bowel Syndrome. The Lancet, Volume 324, Issue 8414 , 1232-1234.

Patterson, D. R., Everett, J. J., Burns, G. L., & Marvin, J. A. (Oct 1992). Hypnosis for the treatment of burn pain. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Vol 60(5 , 713-717.

Pinnell, C. M., & Covino, N. A. (2000). Empirical findings on the use of hypnosis in medicine: A critical review. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Volume 48, Issue 2 , 170 – 194.

Raymond Lloyd Richmond, P. (2010). A Guide to Psychology and its Practice. Retrieved 4 26, 2010, from Guide to Psychology: http://www.guidetopsychology.com/neghyp.htm

Spiegel, D., & Cardeña, E. (1990). New uses of hypnosis in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Vol 51(Suppl), , 39-43.

[1] Source: http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/a/hypnosis.htm