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Zahedi A, Jay Lynn S, Sommer W. How hypnotic suggestions work - A systematic review of prominent theories of hypnosis. Conscious Cogn 2024; 123:103730. [PMID: 39032268 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2024.103730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, hypnosis has increasingly moved into the mainstream of scientific inquiry. Hypnotic suggestions are frequently implemented in behavioral, neurocognitive, and clinical investigations and interventions. Despite abundant reports about the effectiveness of suggestions in altering behavior, perception, cognition, and agency, no consensus exists regarding the mechanisms driving these changes. This article reviews competing theoretical accounts that address the genesis of subjective, behavioral, and neurophysiological responses to hypnotic suggestions. We systematically analyze the broad landscape of hypnosis theories that best represent our estimation of the current status and future avenues of scientific thinking. We start with procedural descriptions of hypnosis, suggestions, and hypnotizability, followed by a comparative analysis of systematically selected theories. Considering that prominent theoretical perspectives emphasize different aspects of hypnosis, our review reveals that each perspective possesses salient strengths, limitations, and heuristic values. We highlight the necessity of revisiting extant theories and formulating novel evidence-based accounts of hypnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoushiravan Zahedi
- Department of Psychology, University of Muenster, Germany; Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany; Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
| | - Steven Jay Lynn
- Psychology Department, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Werner Sommer
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany; Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jin Hua, China
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Green JP. An introduction to "A tribute to the life and work of Steven Jay Lynn (1946-2024): in memoriam". AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS 2024:1-10. [PMID: 39028848 DOI: 10.1080/00029157.2024.2374225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P Green
- Psychology Department, The Ohio State University, Lima, Ohio
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Green JP. A Tribute to the Life and Work of Steven Jay Lynn (1946-2024): In Memoriam. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 2024; 72:219-228. [PMID: 38913945 DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2024.2355831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
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Ramondo N, Pestell CF, Byrne SM, Gignac GE. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Hypnosis in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 2024; 72:229-253. [PMID: 38861252 DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2024.2354722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
We investigated whether adding hypnosis to CBT (CBTH) improved treatment outcomes for MDD with a two-armed, parallel-treated, randomized-controlled trial using anonymous self-report and clinician-blinded assessments. Expectancy, credibility, and attitude to hypnosis were also examined. Participants (n = 66) were randomly allocated to 10-weekly sessions of group-based CBT or CBTH. LMM analyses of ITT and Completer data at post-treatment, six-month and 12-month follow-up showed that both treatments were probably efficacious but we did not find significant differences between them. Analyses of remission and response to treatment data revealed that the CBTH Completer group significantly outperformed CBT at 12-month follow-up (p = .011). CBTH also displayed significantly higher associations between credibility, expectancy and mood outcomes up to 12-month follow-up (all p < .05 or better), while attitude to hypnosis showed one significant association (r = -0.57, p < .05). These results suggest that hypnosis shows promise as an adjunct in the treatment of MDD but a larger sample size is required to fully test its merits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolino Ramondo
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth
- Douro House, West Perth, Western Australia
| | - Carmela F Pestell
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth
| | | | - Gilles E Gignac
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth
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Geagea D, Ogez D, Kimble R, Tyack Z. Redefining hypnosis: A narrative review of theories to move towards an integrative model. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2024; 54:101826. [PMID: 38199053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Hypnosis is an ancient mind-body intervention that has regained interest with the surge of research in the last decade documenting its clinical validity. Yet, theoretical controversies and misconceptions prevail among theorists, clinicians, and the general public, impeding the understanding, acceptance, replication, and use of hypnosis. Providing adequate information, which dispels misconceptions and promotes more balanced views, is warranted to facilitate the implementation and adoption of hypnosis in clinical and research settings. This review re-examines the conceptualisation of hypnosis throughout history and the theoretical controversies surrounding it while highlighting their meeting points and clinical implications. Despite dichotomies, a broad agreement appears across theoretical approaches regarding hypnotic analgesia effects, key components, and vocabulary. Further, theories highlight key factors of hypnotic responding. For instance, social theories highlight social and contextual variables, whereas state theories highlight biopsychosocial mechanisms and individual factors. Based on theories, the terms hypnotherapy or clinical hypnosis are recommended to refer to the therapeutic use of hypnosis in psychotherapeutic and medical contexts, respectively. This review concludes with a model that integrates various theories and evidence and presents hypnosis as a complex multifaceted intervention encompassing multiple procedures, phenomena, and influencing factors. This review intends to deepen our understanding of hypnosis, and promote its more rapid adoption and adequate implementation in research and clinical contexts, in addition to steering research towards evidence-based hypnotic practice. The review can have important research and clinical implications by contributing to advancing knowledge regarding hypnotic procedures, phenomena, and influencing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dali Geagea
- Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - David Ogez
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Roy Kimble
- Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Hospital, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Zephanie Tyack
- Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Australian Centre for Health Service Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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Geagea D, Ogez D, Kimble R, Tyack Z. Demystifying hypnosis: Unravelling facts, exploring the historical roots of myths, and discerning what is hypnosis. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2023; 52:101776. [PMID: 37402329 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hypnosis, a mind-body treatment dating back to early human history, has regained attention in the last decade, with research suggesting its effectiveness for varied physiological and psychological ailments such as distress, pain, and psychosomatic disorders. However, myths and misconceptions have prevailed among the general public and clinicians, hindering the adoption and acceptance of hypnosis. It is important to distinguish myths from facts and discern what is hypnosis and what is not to enhance the understanding, acceptance, and adoption of hypnotic interventions. METHODS This narrative review traces the history of myths surrounding hypnosis in contrast to the evolution of hypnosis as a treatment modality. In addition to comparing hypnosis to other interventions with similar procedures and features, the review unravels misconceptions that have impeded the adoption and acceptance of hypnosis in clinical and research settings and presents evidence to demystify this intervention. RESULTS This review examines the roots of myths while presenting historical facts and evidence that support hypnosis as a treatment modality and alleviate misconceptions depicting it as mystical. Further, the review distinguishes hypnotic and non-hypnotic interventions with overlapping procedures and phenomenological features to enhance our understanding of hypnotic techniques and phenomena. CONCLUSION This review enhances the understanding of hypnosis in historical, clinical, and research contexts by disproving related myths and misconceptions to promote the adoption of hypnosis in clinical and research contexts. Further, this review highlights knowledge gaps requiring further investigations to steer research toward an evidence-based practice of hypnosis and optimise multimodal therapies embedding hypnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dali Geagea
- Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - David Ogez
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Roy Kimble
- Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Hospital, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Zephanie Tyack
- Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Australian Centre for Health Service Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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Zahedi A, Öznur Akalin R, Lawrence JE, Baumann A, Sommer W. The nature and persistence of the effects of posthypnotic suggestions on food preferences: The final report of an online study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1123907. [PMID: 37034940 PMCID: PMC10074491 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1123907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The persistence of food preferences, which are crucial for diet-related decisions, is a significant obstacle to changing unhealthy eating behavior. To overcome this obstacle, the current study investigates whether posthypnotic suggestions (PHSs) can enhance food-related decisions by measuring food choices and subjective ratings. After assessing hypnotic susceptibility in Session 1, at the beginning of Session 2, a PHS was delivered aiming to increase the desirability of healthy food items (e.g., vegetables and fruit). After the termination of hypnosis, a set of two tasks was administrated twice, once when the PHS was activated and once deactivated in counterbalanced order. The task set consisted of rating 170 pictures of food items, followed by an online supermarket where participants were instructed to select enough food from the same item pool for a fictitious week of quarantine. After 1 week, Session 3 mimicked Session 2 without renewed hypnosis induction to assess the persistence of the PHS effects. The Bayesian hierarchical modeling results indicate that the PHS increased preferences and choices of healthy food items without altering the influence of preferences in choices. In contrast, for unhealthy food items, not only both preferences and choices were decreased due to the PHS, but also their relationship was modified. That is, although choices became negatively biased against unhealthy items, preferences played a more dominant role in unhealthy choices when the PHS was activated. Importantly, all effects persisted over 1 week, qualitatively and quantitatively. Our results indicate that although the PHS affected healthy choices through resolve, i.e., preferred more and chosen more, unhealthy items were probably chosen less impulsively through effortful suppression. Together, besides the translational importance of the current results for helping the obesity epidemic in modern societies, our results contribute theoretically to the understanding of hypnosis and food choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoushiravan Zahedi
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Muenster (Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster), Münster, Germany
- Anoushiravan Zahedi ;
| | - Renin Öznur Akalin
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Annika Baumann
- Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, Berlin, Germany
- University of Potsdam, Chair of Business Informatics, esp. Social Media and Society, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Werner Sommer
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Werner Sommer
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