Hypnotherapy for Sleep Disorders

Abstract

Hypnosis can be defined as a procedure during which changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings or behaviour are suggested. Hypnosis can be used to amplify whatever it is about therapy that makes it therapeutic. It permits a wide range of choices regarding where and how to intervene in the patient’s problems. In this paper, we set out to examine the rationale of using hypnotherapy to manage various types of sleep disorders, and to explore the techniques, strategies and hypnotic scripts employed by various hypnotherapists. We also examine the research data available on the efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of sleep disorders. Acute and chronic insomnia often respond to relaxation and hypnotherapy approaches, along with sleep hygiene instructions. Hypnotherapy has also helped with nightmares and sleep terrors. There are several reports of successful use of hypnotherapy for parasomnias, specifically for head and body rocking, bedwetting and sleepwalking. Hypnosis is a specialised technique, not a therapy itself, and should be used as an adjunctive intervention within a complete psychological and medical treatment package. Most of the literature is limited to case reports or studies with such a small sample that at times it is very difficult to interpret the results. There is a major placebo effect, so uncontrolled trials are of limited value. It is hard to perform a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial to evaluate hypnotherapy given that cooperation and rapport between patient and therapist is needed to achieve a receptive trance state. Key words: Insomnia, Nightmares, Nocturnal enuresis, Parasomnias

Self-guided Online Medical Hypnosis Program Improves Dry Nights in Children With Nocturnal Enuresis in a Prospective Single-Center Pilot Study

“…This suggestion while under hypnosis will ultimately reinforce this brain bladder connection and improve their ability to awaken at night. 14,15 While awakening has been a main focus of hypnosis for bedwetting, the role of hypnosis on suppressing bladder contractions has recently gained more attention. A study in adults comparing pharmacologic therapy to hypnotic therapy for patients with overactive bladderassociated urinary incontinence showed hypnosis to be effective in reducing incontinence.…”

“…This suggestion while under hypnosis will ultimately reinforce this brain bladder connection and improve their ability to awaken at night. 14,15…”

The Difference of Neiguan Acupressure Points (Pc6), Hypnotherapy, and Hypnopressure in Reducing Anxiety of Hemodialysis Patients

“…Hypnotherapy is an application of hypnosis in curing mental disorders and alleviating physical disorders (Arter, 2014). Hypnosis can alter sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, or behaviors after being suggested (Ng and Lee, 2008). The brain that has been affected by the suggestion will order the central nervous system to directly stimulate the Reticular Activating System to decrease its performance so that it has an impact on the release of serotonin from specific cells in the pons and brainstem, called the Bulbar Synchronizing Regional (BSR) (Tarwoto and Wartonah, 2011).…”