Hypnosis: A Medico-Moral Evolution

Author\u27s Introductory Note: About two years ago at the request of His Eminence, the late Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, we started an investigation into the subject of hypnosis with the intention of making a medico-moral evaluation. To faciliate our work we drew up a questionnaire and sent it to six leading Catholic psychiatrists: Father William J. Devlin, S.J. of Loyola University, Chicago, Ill., Doctors Francis J. Braceland of the Institute of Living, Hartford, Conn., Francis J. Gerty of the University of Illinois, Chicago, Ill., John J. Madden of Loyola University Chicago, Ill., John J. Nurnberger of the University of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind., and to Edward A. Strecker of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Penn. These men mediately or immediately directed us to send the questionnaire also to the following doctors who have been using hypnosis in their clinical practice: Doctors Milton H. Erickson, President of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Merton M. Gill of Berkeley, Cal.; William S. Kroger of Chicago, Ill.; Lawrence S. Kubie of New York, N.Y.; Harold Rosen, Executive Secretary of the Society for Clinica1 and Experimental Hypnosis, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md and Lewis R. Wolberg of New York, N.Y. We also sent the questionnaire to Mr. Stanley L. Morel. a hypnotist studying in Chicago, Ill. Since all thirteen of these men answered the questionnaire in more or less detail, our debt of gratitude to them is very great. Some sent impartant articles and references to help in the study. In the body of the article where we quote these men without any specific reference we are quoting from their private answers to the questionnaire. Two other sources that we found especially helpful are the two official reports on hypnosis made by the British Medical Association. published in the British Medical journal. April 23, 1955, and by the American Medical Association, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Sept. 13, 1958

The Influence of Hypnotic Susceptibility and Two Induction Techniques on Hypnotic Depth

This study investigated depth of hypnosis self-reported by subjects on the Field Inventory of Hypnotic Depth (FIHD) after experiencing one of two formal hypnotic inductions. The 68 subjects (41 females and 27 males) ranged in age from 17 to 47 (mean 25.3) and were placed into a high susceptibility group or a low susceptibility group based on their scores on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS:A). Both the low susceptibility group and the high susceptibility group were further divided randomly so that half of each group received an indirect induction treatment and the other half received a direct induction treatment

The psychological approach to pain

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Effects of different types of preparatory information on attitudes towards hypnosis.

This paper examines how attitudes of initially reluctant subjects towards hypnosis are influenced by three different approaches to introducing the topic. Participants (N = 90) were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: minimal information, cognitive-behavioural information and trance information. All three groups showed positive changes in attitudes toward hypnosis. Contrary to our expectations, positive attitudinal changes were not diminished for subjects exposed to trance information. Groups given trance and cognitive-behavioural explanations demonstrated significantly greater collaboration compared to the control group. No differences in hypnotic suggestibility were obtained. Copyright © 2005 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosi

AN OVERVIEW ON THE BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI

Nardostachys jatamansi is a flowering plant of the Valerianaceae family, which is a native plant of the Indian and Nepal Himalaya. It is found from 2200m to 5000m asl. in random forms. It is also called as spikenard, nard, nardin, or muskroot used in the formulation of traditional Ayurvedic medicines as well as modern herbal preparations for curing various ailments. The plant abounds in sesquiterpenes predominantly; jatamansone and nardostachone. Nardostachys jatamansi possesses biological properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, oxidative stress, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory activities. It is also useful in the management of insomnia and CNS disorders. This study has detailed information regarding the various activities and mainly focuses on the pharmacological activity of Nardostachys jatamansi.Â

The current status of hypnosis in Spain

While Spanish academic researchers have actively attempted to disengage hypnosis from its traditional links with altered states and automatism, and to promote it by linking hypnotic phenomena with other everyday psychological processes, in the legal field there seems to have been little activity. Among jurists, opinion is divided regarding the exact influence of hypnosis on conscious will, although some maintain that hypnosis can override will, and most that being in a state of hypnosis at the time of committing a criminal act can be used as a defence, depending on knowledge of the prior personality of the individual and the kind of suggestions given. Consequently, because of its alleged influence on will, hypnosis is forbidden by law in Spain as an investigative procedure. Likewise, the practice of hypnosis has been removed from Spanish public health system services, and it cannot be subsidized by private insurance companies. We conclude that traditional notions of hypnosis may be holding back its practical acceptance in Spain. Copyright © 2000 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosi

The Phoenix V.01 No.05

March 7, 1977. The Phoenix is a laboratory publication in the journalism/communication program at the University of North Florida. It is published a least twice each quarter for the purpose of displaying work of students in the program and sharing their views and reviews with others on the campus. Editor and General Manager – William J. Roach, Executive Editor – Bill Skutt, Production Editor – Stephanie McLain, Photo and Art Editor – Pam King. Reports and Production Staff – Pam Allen, Gwen Ansley, Karen Bowling, Kerry Bryant, Joe Harry, Cheryl Oerly, Suzzane Rothlisberger. PALM