Hypnosis in the Laboratory Creates a Window on Psychopathology

The authors describe 3 studies in which hypnosis itself is not studied but instead used to create anomalous states in the laboratory that can be studied under controlled conditions. The 1st article is a comprehensive review of programmatic research using hypnosis to elicit and study clinically relev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis 2011-10, Vol.59 (4), p.469-476
Main Authors: Nash, Michael R., Wong, Albert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders - psychology
Behavioral Research - methods
Brain
Cognition & reasoning
Dissociative Disorders - psychology
Histrionic Personality Disorder - psychology
Humans
Hypnosis
Memory
Psychopathology
Psychopathology - methods
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Summary:The authors describe 3 studies in which hypnosis itself is not studied but instead used to create anomalous states in the laboratory that can be studied under controlled conditions. The 1st article is a comprehensive review of programmatic research using hypnosis to elicit and study clinically relevant delusions. The 2nd article reviews studies comparing the brain activity of hysterical/dissociative patients with nonpatients hypnotized and given suggestions for sensory-motor and cognitive anomalies typical of the clinical syndromes. The authors conclude that the hypnosis analogues are relevant and revealing. The 3rd article describes a single experiment using hypnosis to elicit distressing and intrusive memories, typical of acute anxiety disorders. Findings with hypnotic subjects are in keeping with those from patients suffering intrusive memories. Across all 3 papers, hypnosis is shown to be a viable and helpful tool for experimental psychopathology.
ISSN:0020-7144
1744-5183
DOI:10.1080/00207144.2011.594752