The use of hypnosis in psychotherapy has evolved in the ideas on psychotherapy change following historical events and changes in psychological theories. As a matter of fact, only in recent years hypnosis has grown as a medical specialty. This is most probably due to the influence of a proliferation of clinical studies with adequate cases, control groups and valid statistical analyses. Posttraumatic stress disorder represents one of the psychiatric illnesses found within the anxiety disorder spectrum (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Lindly, Carlson, & Sheikh, 2000).
Reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal are three symptom clusters typically found in persons diagnosed with PTSD (Lindly, Carlson, & Sheikh, 2000). Hypnosis can be used in conjunction with other cognitive-behavioral therapies, such as exposure therapy, to reduce the symptoms of PTSD (Foa, Davidson, & Frances, 1999). However, variable such as beliefs and control mechanism, which possibly prevent the patients from engaging in treatment to reduce maladaptive behaviors, seem to have drawn little attention in PTSD research, particularly in regard to the employment of hypnotherapy.
This research paper will report about PTSD, hypnosis, behavioral variables, and the issues revolving around engaging patients in treatment. Definition This definition of hypnosis was prepared by the Executive Committee of the American Psychological Association, Division of Psychological Hypnosis (2000): Hypnosis is a procedure during which a health professional or research suggests that a client, patient, or subject experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. The hypnotic context is generally established by an induction procedure.
Although there are many different hypnotic inductions, most include suggestions for relaxation, calmness, and well-being. Instructions to imagine or think about pleasant experiences are also commonly included in hypnotic inductions, People respond to hypnosis in different ways. Some describe hypnosis as a normal state of focused attention, in which they feel very calm and relaxed. Regardless of how and to what degree they respond, most people described the experience as very pleasant. Some people are very responsive to hypnotic suggestions and others are less responsive.
A person’s ability to experience hypnotic suggestions can be inhibited by fears and concerns arising from some common misconceptions. Contrary to some depictions of hypnosis in books, movies or television, people who have been hypnotized do not lose control over their behavior. They typically remain aware of who they are and where they are, and unless amnesia has been specifically suggested, they usually remember what transpired during hypnosis. Hypnosis makes easier for people to experience suggestions, but it does not force them to have these experiences.
Hypnosis is not a type of therapy, like psychoanalysis or behavior therapy. Instead, it is a procedure that can be used to facilitate therapy. It is the opinion of the authors of this statement that because it is not a treatment in and of itself, training in hypnosis is not sufficient for the conduct of therapy; rather, clinical hypnosis should be used only by properly trained and credentialed health care professionals (e. g. licensed clinical psychologist), who have also been trained in the clinical use of hypnosis and are working within the areas of their professional expertise.