Hypnotic Alteration of Body Image in the Eating Disordered

Abstract

A driving force in an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa has been a distorted body image. The psychobiological dynamics of eating disorders have demonstrated significant hypnotic phenomena such as forms of dissociation, hallucination, time distortion and catalepsy, and therefore, pose hypnosis as a good fit for particular parts of treatment. Presented here are four hypnotic approaches designed to inspire the establishment of a reality based body image in the eating disordered individual. Conditional prerequisites for application of these interventions are described and case examples illustrate each approach. A discussion on some of the rationale for formulating these strategies is offered.

Eating Disorders, Addictions and Substance Use Disorders

“…Other clinical evidence suggesting a benefit for hypnosis has been supported in a series of case presentations and hypnosis approaches to ED conditions including AN (Walsh, 2010), BN (Túry et al, 2011;Walsh, 2010), BED (Anbar & Savedoff, 2005), and distorted body image (Walsh, 2008).…”

“…A recent systemic review of the use of acupuncture in cocaine dependence identified a total of seven RCTs involving a total of 1,433 subjects. hypnosis in BN is characterized by a small number of clinical studies, mostly case and anecdotal reports, and narrative reviews discussing methodological issues including the capacity of individuals to respond to hypnosis and different clinical approaches to the use of hypnosis (Anbar & Savedoff, 2005;Barabasz, 2007Barabasz, , 2012Hutchinson-Phillips, Gow, & Jamieson, 2007;Mantle, 2003;Torem, 1992;Túry et al, 2011;Walsh, 2008Walsh, , 2010. Outcome measures included cocaine use, measured either biochemically or by self-report, cocaine craving, severity of dependence, and treatment dropout.…”

“…Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of individuals with SUD, AN, BN, BED, and distorted body image (Anbar & Savedoff, 2005;Barabasz, 2007;Mantle, 2003;Túry, Wildmann, & Szentes, 2011;Walsh, 2008Walsh, , 2010. It has, however, been noted that severely ill AN sufferers may have issues with cognitive processing due to malnutrition and that hypnosis may not be appropriate for these individuals (Mantle, 2003).…”

Rapid Remission of Anorexia Nervosa and Unconscious Communication

“…While doing ideomotor questioning Dara appeared to have developed trance, as evidenced by eye flutter and closure, a slowing of breathing, and a smoothing out of facial muscles. Trance facilitated the application of a reality lens intervention (Walsh, 2008) in which Dara encountered a full length mirror with two pair of eye glasses beside it. One set of glasses had ED lenses while the other had reality lenses which allowed Dara to see her body realistically.…”