Relaxation strategies and enhancement of hypnotic susceptibility: EEG neurofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation and self-hypnosis.

Full Abstract

Hypnosis has been shown to be efficacious in a range of clinical conditions, including the management of chronic pain. However, not all individuals are able to enter a hypnotic state, thereby limiting the clinical utility of this technique. We sought to determine whether hypnotic susceptibility could be increased using three methods thought to facilitate relaxation, with particular interest in an EEG neurofeedback protocol which elevated the theta to alpha ratio. This was compared with progressive muscle relaxation and self-hypnosis. Ten subjects with moderate levels of susceptibility (2-7/12) were randomly assigned to each condition and assessed for hypnotic susceptibility prior to and upon completion of 10 sessions of training. Hypnotic susceptibility increased post-training in all groups, providing further evidence that operant control over the theta/alpha ratio is possible, but contrary to our predictions, elevation of the theta/alpha ratio proved no more successful than the other interventions. Nonetheless, all three techniques successfully enhanced hypnotic susceptibility in over half of the participants (17/30), a similar incidence to that reported using other methods. As previously reported, the majority who were not susceptible to modification were at the lower levels of susceptibility, and the greater increases tended to occur in the more susceptible subjects. However, here enhancement was disclosed in some at low levels, and capability was found of reaching high levels, both features not typically reported. Further research is warranted.

Author information

Author/s: Batty, Martin J (MJ); Bonnington, Samantha (S); Tang, Bo-Kim (BK); Hawken, Malcolm B (MB); Gruzelier, John H (JH);

Affiliation: Imperial College, London W6 8RP, UK.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal: Brain research bulletin (Brain Res Bull), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Dec; vol 71 (issue 1-3) : pp 83-90

Dates: Created 2006/11/20; Completed 2007/02/01; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17113932, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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