Clinical Hypnotherapy is considered an alternative treatment which can assist in eliminating many harmful elements associated with anxiety and the prescribed medications³.

Anxiety disorders are chronic, disabling conditions that are a world-wide issue for far too many people¹. Recent research has demonstrated anxiety disorders can noticeably compromise the quality of life of the person suffering anxiety.

It has been shown that effective psychotherapeutic treatment can assist². Clinical Hypnotherapy is considered an alternative treatment which can assist in eliminating many harmful elements associated with anxiety and the prescribed medications³.

Clinical gains achieved through combining hypnosis and CBT justify the systematic study of the effects of combining hypnosis with the full range of CBT techniques⁴. It has been concluded in a meta-analysis that CBT provided enhanced outcomes when hypnosis was added to the treatment regime5.

Research studies into anxiety disorders where clinical hypnotherapy is the specified treatment modality are sparse. However, the data available which supports clinical hypnotherapy as a validated intervention is increasing. Two meta-analyses confirm that clinical hypnotherapy is an effective intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders⁶.

Several articles^4,7-10 provide evidence of the efficacy of clinical hypnotherapy treatment with Acute Stress Disorder, Childhood Anxiety Disorders, Conversion Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder. Research conducted by Uman, Chambers, McGrath, and Kisely¹¹ supports the efficacy of clinical hypnotherapy with needle phobia in reducing pain and distress, particularly in children undergoing needle procedures. Panic disorder is over-represented in patients with asthma¹², and there is evidence that hypnotherapy is useful in the treatment of panic disorder, including that associated with asthma. Some patients have learnt to exercise direct symptom control using hypnosis. From an extensive literature review it appears that the alleviation of the stress component of asthma may be very helpful¹³. Other researchers, while investigating the combination of CBT and hypnosis⁴ have remarked there is sufficient evidence of clinical gain to justify further systematic studies be conducted.

Hypnotherapy is regarded as a valid, ethical, natural and effective form of treatment in a range of issues experienced by individuals. Without lengthy psychology sessions or medications, patients can often demonstrate considerable benefit faster with the use of hypnotherapy. Perhaps it is time we each took more control over our thoughts, feelings and behaviours, using the inner strength and ability we each have, and that Hypnotherapy can further support. Given correct and professional treatment all people can take back a degree of control and commence the self-healing process. Please visit www.VirtualHypnotherapy.com to select the treatment best for you to start your process of recovery.

References:

1. Baxter A, Vos T, Scott K, Ferrari A, Whiteford H. The global burden of anxiety disorders in 2010. Psychological medicine. 2014;44(11):2363-74.
2. Mendlowicz MV, Stein MB. Quality of life in individuals with anxiety disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2014.
3. Huston TR. The effects of using hypnosis for treating anxiety in outpatients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. US: ProQuest Information & Learning; 2011.
4. Bryant RA, Moulds ML, Guthrie RM, Nixon RDV. The Additive Benefit of Hypnosis and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Treating Acute Stress Disorder 2005 [334].
5. Golden WL. Cognitive hypnotherapy for anxiety disorders. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. 2012;54(4):263-74.
6. Flammer E, Alladin A. The Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Psychosomatic Disorders: Meta-analytical Evidence. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2007;55(3):251 – 74.
7. Tyrer P, Baldwin D. Generalised anxiety disorder. The Lancet. 2006;368(9553):2156-66.
8. Watson HJ, Rees CS. Meta analysis of randomized, controlled treatment trials for pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2008;49(5):489-98.
9. Leary P. Conversion disorder in childhood—diagnosed too late, investigated too much? Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2003;96(9):436.
10. Tajeri B, Jahanshahi SV. Investigation of the Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy on Generalized Anxiety Disorder. International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Research. 2015;4(2):245-9.
11. Uman LS, Chambers CT, McGrath PJ, Kisely S. Psychological Interventions for Needle-Related Procedural Pain and Distress in Children and Adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006(4):Art. No.: CD005179. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005179.pub2.
12. Lehrer P, Feldman J, Giardino N, Song HS, Schmaling K. Psychological aspects of asthma. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2002;70(3):691. 14. Hackman RM, Stern JS, Gershwin ME. Hypnosis and Asthma: A Critical Review. Journal of Asthma. 2000;37(1):1-15.
13. Hackman RM, Stern JS, Gershwin ME. Hypnosis and Asthma: A Critical Review. Journal of Asthma. 2000;37(1):1-15.

Information supplied by Dr Leon Cowan from Academy of Applied Hypnosis

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