Volume 18 (2023) – Hypnosis and Mindfulness

Volume 18 (2023) – Hypnosis and Mindfulness

Issue 1+2, October 2023, 224 pages

of the journal Hypnose – Zeitschrift für Hypnose und Hypnotherapie (Hypnose-ZHH)

Table of Contents and Abstracts

Michael E. Harrer

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 9-39

Models of an integrated use of hypnosis and mindfulness in psychotherapy

Hypnosis and mindfulness-based interventions have proven to be effective in clinical settings for a variety of disorders. In order to extend their applicability and to increase their effectiveness, it makes sense to combine the two methods. This article provides an overview of ways of integration described in the literature. In addition to fundamental considerations by various authors on the combined use of hypnosis and mindfulness, distinct models are presented, such as "Mindful Hypnotherapy" and a mechanism-based approach. In addition to the transdiagnostic, modular structured procedures, disorder-specific concepts are also presented. In all mindfulness-based interventions, the therapist's embodiment of mindfulness is fundamental. Therefore the role of mindfulness, presence, and compassion in creating rapport and forming a therapeutic alliance is discussed in more detail.

Keywords: Hypnosis, mindfulness, acceptance, alliance, presence, empathy, compassion, rapport

Tina Draszczyk

Mindfulness and Metaphors Viewed in the Context of Buddhist Psychology

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 41-64

This paper discusses mindfulness and the practice of mindfulness as it has found its way into the western healthcare system in its broadest sense. In its first part, the article presents the Buddhist psychological background of mindfulness and the beneficial effects that can unfold through this mental training. In the second part, the article describes some options with regard to developing and applying the practice of mindfulness. Special focus lies on the manner in which metaphors are implemented with the aim to support a sound understanding of mindfulness and its application. In this context, the article shows what is important with regard to language while guiding mindfulness practice. Concluding, the verbal and non-verbal elements of guiding mindfulness practice are contrasted with those that are well-researched and wide-spread in the field of hypnosis.

Keywords: mindfulness, metaphor, Buddhism, pausing, awareness, stress reduction

Mark Jensen und Michael E. Harrer

Hypnosis and mindfulness in the treatment of chronic pain. An Interview with Mark Jensen

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 65-78

As an internationally renowned expert in the field of therapy of pain with hypnosis, Mark Jensen (Seattle, USA) in this interview answers questions concerning his personal path to hypnosis and his research in this field. His research projects focus on the combination of hypnosis with other methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and neurofeedback. His goal is to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches by combining different methods. One focus is research about factors predicting which people respond best to which method, e.g. patterns in the brain waves (EEG) and their hypnotizability. Psychological factors are in the foreground as potential mechanisms for the question of how therapies work. Finally, Mark Jensen reports on future projects and his own mindfulness practice.

Keywords: Pain, hypnosis, mindfulness, hypnotizability, EEG, predictors

Zoltan Dienes und Jean-Rémy Martin

The role of hypnosis and meditation in consciousness research An interview with Zoltan Dienes

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 79-88

In this interview, Zoltan Dienes (Brighton, UK), specialist in consciousness studies, answers questions related to hypnosis and meditation: Why are hypnosis and mindfulness interesting topics for the study of consciousness? Is the notion of altered state of consciousness a useful notion in the context of hypnosis and mindfulness? What do we know about the neurocognitive mechanisms sustaining the action of hypnosis and mindfulness? There is a long tradition of using hypnosis clinically, particularly as an analgesic method; might mindfulness and hypnosis work in the same way? Building on his empirical and theoretical research on hypnosis and meditation, Zoltan Dienes gives us his answers. Hypnosis and meditation are postulated to engage metacognitive processes, though in opposite ways.

Keywords: consciousness, hypnosis, meditation, metacognition

Christine Brähler

Cultivating self-compassion as goal of psychotherapy – not only in the treatment of trauma

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 89-106

Self-compassion refers to the capacity to see oneself as worthy of love and attention and as connected to humankind when we experience distress. Shame can be defined as seeing oneself as unworthy of love and attention and as uniquely isolated from the rest of humankind. Selfcompassion thus appears to represent an obvious antidote to shame. Shame contributes to a wide range of psychiatric conditions. This article discusses the role of self-compassion in the treatment of complex posttraumatic stress disorder, ways to understand and overcome fears and barriers to self-compassion, the yin and yang qualities of self-compassion and the role of fierce self-compassion. Self-compassion can also provide a resource for therapists for troubleshooting their own triggered parts, to protect themselves against vicarious traumatization, to avoid shaming and retraumatizing their clients, and to offer a safe haven and a secure base until clients have developed both within themselves.

Keywords: Self-compassion, fierce self-compassion, self compassion break, fears of compassion, shame, PTSD, complex posttraumatic stress disorder, psychosis, forgiveness

Björn Riegel

The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility 5 (HGSHS-5:G) Application, evaluation and interpretation of the German short version of the HGSHS:A

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 107-118

The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) is a widely used instrument for assessing an individual's hypnotizability. Since the implementation is time-consuming, a reduction in the number of items was achieved in a large German sample using statistical methods (Riegel et al., 2021). The five „challenge items“ now form the German short version HGSHS-5:G. Their application, evaluation and interpretation are described. In addition, instructional text and evaluation scheme are provided for further research into the HGSHS-5:G.

Keywords: hypnosis, hypnotherapy, hypnotizability, suggestibility, psychometric test

Burkhard Peter

Suggestibility and Hypnotizability. History and Theory

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 119-144

Drawing on historical references in which differences in susceptibility to animal magnetism were noted as early as 1775 and in the capacity for somnambulism as early as 1800, this history and theory section distinguishes between different concepts of suggestibility and hypnotizability. The theoretical controversy over the "correct" understanding of hypnosis and hypnotizability that dominated the hypnosis discourse of the 1970s and 1980s will be presented, for this controversy, which still affects the theory and practice of hypnosis today, defines our understanding of suggestibility and hypnotizability.

Keywords: Suggestibiliy, hypnotiziability, hypnosis, history, theory, state, non-state, Erickson

Burkhard Peter und Thomas G. Wolf

Personality styles of Homo hypnoticus dentalis and MEGensis in relation to attachment style and religiosity

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 145-175

In a previous study, Peter and Böbel (2020b) found that insecurely attached psychotherapists differed from securely attached ones in nine personality styles. The aim of the present study was to replicate these findings and to investigate whether they also apply to other health professions such as dentists. 891 subjects from two German professional associations for hypnosis (DGZH and MEG) were surveyed online using the Personality Style and Disturbance Inventory (PSSI) and the Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ). Since these professionals were interested in hypnosis and used it in their practice (HYP), 150 dentists without a hypnosis context (NONHYP) were studied as a control group using the same survey. The results of the previous attachment study could be replicated: Insecurely attached health care professionals differed significantly from securely attached ones in the same nine (plus one, i.e., 10) personality styles when using psychological methods including hypnosis. When they did not use hypnosis (such as the NONHYP dentists), they differed in half of the personality styles. For the assertive/antisocial (AS) personality style, no differences were found within and between samples. Similarly, no within-sample differences were found for the conscientious/compulsive (ZW) and intuitive/schizotypal (ST) personality styles. However, large between-sample differences were evident for ZW and ST. The two dentist samples were exceptionally more compulsive than the two psychotherapist samples. In addition, both HYP samples were significantly more schizotypal (ST) than the NONHYP samples. Schizotypy appears to be the signature of those individuals interested in hypnosis, who have been metaphorically termed homo hypnoticus. AS, ZW, and ST appear to be independent of attachment style. Religiosity and spirituality are apparently related to schizotypy as well: Psychotherapists and dentists working with hypnosis show high schizotypy scores if they are religiously or spiritually oriented – in contrast to dentists not working with hypnosis. The negative aspects of the personality style schizotypy are considered problematic for the scientific recognition of hypnosis.

Keywords: cross sectional study, dentist, homo hypnoticus, homo hypnoticus dentalis, hypnosis, personality style, psychotherapists, religiosity

Maria Hagl

Efficacy and effectiveness research in the field of clinical hypnosis in 2022

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 177-198

The Milton Erickson Society of Clinical Hypnosis in Germany has commissioned an annual overview of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses on the efficacy and effectiveness of clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy. The systematic literature search for studies published in peer-reviewed journals in 2022 yielded 25 RCTs that evaluated hypnotherapeutic interventions – in some cases presented via audio recordings or virtual reality headsets – in comparison to a control group. Five of them had already been published online in 2021. The adjunctive use of hypnosis or hypnotherapeutic communication before, during and/or after a medical procedure was evaluated in 11 RCTs. In 14 RCTs, hypnotherapeutic interventions for chronic conditions were evaluated, with mostly chronic pain or functional disorders being targeted, but also behavioural problems or psychological symptoms. Only 3 out of the 25 RCTs published in 2022 had been registered in a trial registry before, 16 more after the first patient was enrolled. Regarding new trial registrations for hypnosis RCTs in 2022, more than half were prospective registrations. Preregistration, which is mandatory for publication in many journals, seems to be adopted somewhat hesitantly in hypnosis efficacy research. However, to overcome bias risks (e.g., outcome reporting bias), researchers should preregister their trials.

Keywords: Hypnosis, hypnotherapy, efficacy, effectiveness, randomized controlled trials, RCT, meta-analysis, review.

Hansjörg Ebell

Hypnosis and self-hypnosis enable successful psychotherapy treatment after ellbow fracture with complications

H y p n o s e - Z H H 2023, 18(1+2), 199-206

Anxiously controlling counterbracing prevents physiotherapy treatment after surgical treatment of an elbow fracture. Since there is no mechanical obstacle, the aim is to make the patient realize that the problem is not the joint, but his psyche. When trying to force the stretching of the forearm, a new fracture occurs in the joint. Postoperatively, the same problem exists again, this time, of course, intensified. By means of hypnosis and self-hypnosis – in close cooperation with the physiotherapist – it is possible to overcome the hurdles to successful rehabilitation. The technique of ideomotor finger signalling proves to be particularly helpful.

Keywords: Hypnosis, self hypnosis, ideomotor finger signalling, postoperative treatment