International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis - E-Lib FK UWKS

132 INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS
unipolar depression CDMD). Whilst primarily utilizing cognitive strategies,
Alladin 1994) describes a multifactorial approach, including the use of posture
modi®cation, attention switching, social skills training and goal setting with
rehearsal using hypnotic induction techniques.
COGNITIVELY RESTRUCTURING THE EXPERIENCE OF
DEPRESSION
Alladin's 1994) Cognitive Dissociative Model utilizes the hypnotic process to
facilitate cognitive restructuring. He describes a theoretical model linking hypnosis
with depression and reports preliminary data ®nding no difference in outcome
between this treatment methodology and Beck et al.'s 1979, 1985) cognitive
therapy approach . However, subjects in the cognitive hypnotherapy group showed
more rapid improvement, greater reduction in anxiety scores, and a signi®cant
increase in self-con®dence.
Hypnosis has also been used to facilitate imagery techniques, from either a
cognitive-behavioural or a psychodynamic theoretical framework. Fromm 1976)
successfully used a metaphor of nature and new growth in her therapy with a
woman following the deaths of her parents.
UNCOVERING, AGE REGRESSION APPROACHES, INTRAPSYCHIC
CONFLICTS
The majority of the earlier case reports describing the clinical use of hypnosis with
depressed individuals have utilized a psychodynamic framework. Rosen 1955)
describes the use of hypnotically induced regression, Abrams 1964) discusses the
uncovering of repressed material and Chambers 1968) describes a woman's
compulsion to eat raw potatoes in psychoanalytic terms. Haley 1967) details a case
report of Milton Erickson's use of hypnosis with automatic drawing in a case of
obsessional depression.
A signi®cant amount of more recent case material also utilizes hypnotic
techniques within a psychodynamic framework. Alden 1995) reports the case of a
35-year-old man with long-standing symptoms of anxiety, depression and multiple
traumas, involving the use of hypnosis to provide a `safe, relaxing framework for
the client's therapy and regression to traumatic events'. Gravitz 1994) describes a
treatment method illustrated by three cases involving the retrieval and restructuring
of past memories of traumatic experiences using hypnotic regression and revivi®cation.
Leistikow 1990) details the case of a male patient undergoing hypnoanalysis
for depression using techniques such as word association, dream suggestion and
age regression in conjunction with hypnosis. Griggs 1989) also describes the
process of medical hypnoanalysis, using hypnosis in conjunction with dream
analysis and age regression. Mendelberg 1990) used an uncovering technique in