Hypnotically Induced Dissociation (HID) as a Strategic Intervention for Enhancing OCD Treatment

Abstract

To date, cognitive behavioral therapy has been designated the most efficient evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach for OCD management. This is mainly due to its ability to effectively address the constitutional and developmentally acquired emotional and cognitive deficiencies of OCD, which express themselves through behavioral compulsions and intrusive thoughts. Yet some reports indicate that from 30 to 60 percent of OCD patients are not responsive to psychotherapeutic interventions. As a consequence, broader therapeutic models have been considered. These models encompass multifactorial etiologies of OCD and take intrapsychic stressogenic factors into consideration as well. Some of these models have adopted hypnotherapeutic approaches. In the present article, we introduce a therapeutic tool that utilizes hypnotically induced dissociation (HID) to identify and address the intrapsychic etiology of OCD. The result is a therapeutic intervention that complements existing OCD treatment strategies. Clinical cases are presented to illustrate implementation of the approach.

Using Hypnosis in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: Pros and Cons

“…CBH. So far, hypnosis has occupied a relatively restricted role in the treatment of OCD [87] and this is reflected in the few numbers of studies on this topic. Indeed, no well controlled studies on the efficacy of CBH have been completed so far to see the additive effect of hypnosis to CBT [88].…”

“…exposure-response prevention, flooding) in order to enhance its effect, relieve anxiety and ameliorate the patients' affect regulation [90][91][92]. Very recently, Meyerson and Konichezky [87] presented three single-case reports in which hypnoticallyinduced dissociation (HID) combined with CBT protocols was successfully used in order to treat patients with OCD. According to Yapko [93], HID is the ability to split a fully and unified experience into many different components, while amplifying awareness of one part and diminishing awareness of the others.…”

“…anxiety disorders [87]. One point to note, however, is that the boundaries between hypnosis as a stand-alone treatment and as an adjunct are sometimes unclear, as some people view a hypnotic induction followed by suggestions as CBT in itself [14].…”

Hypnotic Regression as an Autoethnographic Modality for Exploring Adverse Childhood Experiences as Proposed Effectors of Chronic Adult Obesity - Selected Case Studies

“…These theories may therefore have relevance to experiences during hypnotic regression, in empowering individuals to remake or let go of unnecessary childhood protective decisions and become free to manage their adult lives in a better way. Spontaneous out of body experiences and other forms of dissociation during hypnotic regression can be similarly enlightening and empowering [26,27]. All such autoethnographical discovering and re-discovering of the past and its previously hidden traumas and turmoil can in this way bring illumination and understanding about the past, its impact on one's present life and the freedom to change [21].…”