Definition
Hypnosis therapy, or hypnotherapy, is a form of complementary treatment that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness often called a trance. In this state, individuals are more open to positive suggestions, which can help them change behaviors, manage symptoms, or explore underlying psychological issues.
Induction of an altered state of intense and sensitive interpersonal relatedness between hypnotist and patient, characterized by a state of attentive, receptive, concentration with a relative suspension of peripheral awareness.
In the hypnotized state, the client experiences a heightened focal concentration and receptivity to the suggestions of another person.
Objectives
- For psychological investigation, e.g. to elicit the nature of underlying conflicts and problems and to facilitate the recall of forgotten experiences which may be emotionally important.
- To abreact past experiences (to recall repressed memories).
- To understand the dynamics of unconscious processes or behaviors.
- To modify symptoms and attitudes.
- To treat psychosomatic manifestations.
- To control habits like overeating and smoking.
- To add as an adjunct to other forms of treatment.
Indications
- Hysteria.
- Anxiety neurosis.
- Depression.
- Psychosomatic disorder, e.g. asthma, eczema, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis.
- Habitual spasms, tics and stammering.
- Pregnancy and labor: To induce anaesthesia and for relaxation during labor.
- To recover lost memories.
- Functional disorders in children, e.g. nocturnal enuresis, phobias.
- Insomnia, muteness, and substance abuse.
- Eating disorders, e.g. obesity, anorexia nervosa.
- Conversion symptoms.
- Neurotic habits, e.g. phobia, pain syndrome.
Contraindications
- Hysterical personality: Such clients may go into irreversible hypnotic states and may raise false accusations against hypnotist.
- Schizophrenia.
- Paranoid state.
- Psychotic depression.
- Obsessional state.
Procedure
| Interventions | Rationale | |
| 1. | Explain to patient what hypnosis means and the beneficial therapeutic effects. | Client understands that it is a state of relaxation in which his field of awareness becomes narrowed and in that state suggestions will be much effective. |
| 2. | Obtain informed consent from the client. | Client agrees to the procedure after obtaining adequate information. |
| 3. | Have the patient seated comfortably in a chair or lay down on a couch and let all muscles loose. | Obtains complete relaxation. |
| 4. | Therapist asks the patient to fix his vision on a specific point or object such as a key or a light bulb in the room. | Becomes able to focus at one thing and avoid distractions. |
| 5. | Therapist gives suggestions that his/her eyelids are getting more and more tired and will close and that the tiredness is passing over the head and down various parts of the body. | Relaxes the whole body in accordance with the suggestions of the therapist. |
| 6. | The therapist continues his suggestions and repeatedly informs client that his/her eyes are closing. as in sleep. | Patient relaxes well, takes in suggestions and develops a breathing rhythm. |
| 7. | As patient reaches the hypnotized state, therapist reactivates repressed memories and gives therapeutic suggestions. | Patient readily accepts suggestions in hypnotized state. |
| 8. | After a period of hypnotic trance, the hypnotizer tells the client that at a certain signal, he will wake up from sleep, e.g. counting up to five. | The client wakes up at the signal given by the hypnotizer. |
| 9. | After a successful hypnotization therapy, it is generally repeated several times. | When repeated, the client goes into the state of trance more easily in short time. |
Factors involved in hypnosis
- Absorption: Hypnotized individuals become intensely absorbed in their trance experience.
- Dissociation: Mental process that causes a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memory and sense of identity.
- Suggestibility: In hypnotized state, individuals show a tendency to accept uncritical instructions, suspending the us conscious editing functions.
Effects of hypnosis
Through post hypnotic suggestions, symptoms of certain diseases get eliminated, e.g. easing of breathing in asthmatics.
- Reactivation of memories.
- Repressed memories can be brought back to conscious mind.
- Hallucinatory experience may be induced.
Drawbacks of hypnotism
- Uncooperative and unwilling patients cannot be hypnotized.
- Hypnosis does not penetrate deep enough to remove inner tension.
Precautions to be followed
- Hypnosis should be used with sound clinical judgment in a goal-directed setting.
- The therapist/clinician should be adequately trained in reconstructive, psychotherapeutic techniques and psychodynamics of interventions to avoid errors in critical judging.
Special Considerations
- Obtain explicit consent from the patient, explaining the nature, benefits, and potential risks of hypnosis therapy.
- Ensure the patient understands the process and feels comfortable proceeding.
- Assess the patient’s mental and physical state to determine their suitability for hypnosis therapy.
- Avoid hypnosis for patients with conditions that may impair their ability to focus or relax.
- Respect the patient’s autonomy and avoid using hypnosis to manipulate or override their free will.
- Maintain confidentiality and adhere to professional ethical standards.
- Customize the therapy to address the patient’s specific needs, such as managing phobias, stress, or chronic pain.
- Use techniques that align with the patient’s comfort level and therapeutic goals.
- Observe the patient’s responses during hypnosis to ensure their safety and well-being.
- Provide emotional reassurance and address any concerns or discomfort.
REFERENCES
- Annamma Jacob, Rekha, Jhadav Sonali Tarachand: Clinical Nursing Procedures: The Art of Nursing Practice, 5th Edition, March 2023, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN-13: 978-9356961845 ISBN-10: 9356961840
- Omayalachi CON, Manual of Nursing Procedures and Practice, Vol 1, 3 Edition 2023, Published by Wolters Kluwer’s, ISBN: 978-9393553294
- Sandra Nettina, Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice, 11th Edition, January 2019, Published by Wolters Kluwers, ISBN-13:978-9388313285
- Adrianne Dill Linton, Medical-Surgical Nursing, 8th Edition, 2023, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323826716
- Donna Ignatavicius, Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Clinical Judgment and Collaborative Care, 11th Edition ,2024, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323878265
- Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing, 12th Edition,2024, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323789615
- R.Sreevani, A Guide to Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing, 6th Edition, 2024, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN 978-9366161686
- Sheila L. Videbeck, Psychiatric Nursing, Seventh Edition , 2017, Wolters Kluwer Publications, ISBN: 978- 1496355911
- Ernstmeyer K, Christman E, editors. Nursing Fundamentals [Internet]. 2nd edition. Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2024. PART IV, NURSING PROCESS. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK610818/
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