Alladin, A, Sabatini, L., & Amundson, J.K. (2007).  What should we mean by empirical validation in hypnotherapy: Evidence-based practice in clinical hypnosis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 55, (2), 115-130.

Summary

This article takes on several tasks; it reviews the theoretical and experimental basis of empirical studies, gives a history and background of evidence-based practice, delineates both process and content studies, reviews the latest evidence for efficacy of hypnosis with treatment of various presenting issues, and gives suggestions for further studies within the field.  The pros and cons of evidence-based therapies are given equal weight, with the importance of balancing the art of therapy and hypnosis with evidence for both efficacy and effectiveness.

The authors begin with a discussion of the movement from theory driven practice, which was at its height in the 1960s, toward an empirical basis in the 1990s. This trend has not been without controversy.  The main arguments against have been that practice of therapy is a messy procedure, and that the rigidness of manualized treatment can never be replicated in the real world.  Other factors, such as the impact of the clinician on the patient, the therapeutic relationship itself and the personal “intricacies of clinical judgment in the empirical evaluation of treatments” are also part of the debate (p. 118).  Yet the obvious support raised in some circles is that manualized treatments can assure consumers receive treatment has been found efficacious.

Evidence-based treatments of hypnosis for several disorders are cataloged, with mixed results found.  Content (efficacy) versus process (effectiveness) types of research are examined for furthering evidence-based practice in hypnosis.  The authors give further indications for the development of empirical research and practice for hypnotherapy.

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The connection between hypnosis and creativity was extensively explored since the mid 1960’s, but it has largely fallen to the wayside since the beginning of the 1990s (Council, Bromley, Zabelina, & Waters, 2007).  A small body of research has been done in connection with the application of hypnosis to enhance creativity in subjects (Council, et al, 2007). This paper will present a brief overview of some of the research and theoretical work done by various authors over the past 50 years.  Two major definitions of hypnosis in relation to the creative act will be investigated, as well as the literature involving creativity enhancement.

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The prevailing theories of hypnotic susceptibility hold that the ability to experience hypnotic phenomena is a function of either dissociative capacity or of attentional control. However, an upcoming study in the journal Consciousness And Cognition claims to challenge both of these ideas.

The researchers administered the Waterloo-Stanford Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (Form C), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (normed for non-clinical populations), and a series of cognitive inhibition tasks to 180 study participants. They conclude, decisively, that “the data ruled out even moderate correlations between hypnotic suggestibility and all the measures of dissociation and cognitive inhibition.” » Read the rest of this entry «