International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis - E-Lib FK UWKS

NEUROPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HYPNOSIS 73
that the combination of hypnosis and skin reactivity has been investigated for over
50 years, ®rst beginning with work by Clarkson 1937), Zeller 1944) and the early
studies by Black and Mason in England e.g., Black, 1963a,b, 1969; Black,
Humphrey & Niven, 1963; Mason & Black, 1958) and continuing to a resurgence
of interest in the past 10 years e.g., Laidlaw, Booth & Large, 1994, 1996; Laidlaw,
Large & Booth, 1997; Laidlaw, Richardson, Booth & Large, 1994; Zacharie &
Bjerring, 1993; Zachariae, Bjerring & Arendt-Nielsen, 1989).The Mantoux reaction
to tuberculin was inhibited by highly hypnotizable subjects who were Mantoux-positive
Black, Humphrey & Niven, 1963; Zachariae, Bjerring & Arendt-
Nielsen, 1989), yet two other studies Beahrs, Harris & Hilgard, 1970; Locke,
Ransil, Covino et al., 1987) were unable to replicate. Asthmatic patients reduced
reactions to histamine more so in hypnosis than nonhypnosis conditions Laidlaw
et al., 1994). Further work from New Zealand found that subjects given hypnotic
suggestions were able to decrease their reactivity to histamine reactions Laidlaw,
Booth & Large, 1996) and allergen reactions Laidlaw, Large & Booth, 1997).
Those who produced the largest effects tended to be more hypnotizable Laidlaw,
Large & Booth, 1997).Of great interest is that mood was an important correlate:
low irritability rating was associated with smaller wheals Laidlaw, Booth & Large,
1994, 1996).Hypnotic treatment of warts was found to be more successful than
topical medication or placebo medication e.g., Spanos, Williams & Gwynn, 1990).
Beyond the space of this chapter are other important physiological changes
accompanying waking and hypnotic suggestions that are worthy of further investigation.Suggestions
of cooling and imagery have assisted burn patients, particularly
those who were noted to image well, within hours of the burn incident Margolis,
Domangue, Ehleben & Shrier, 1983; for a review, see Patterson, Adcock &
Bombardier, 1997).Suggestions have led to reduced blood loss in spinal Bennett,
Benson & Kuiken, 1986) and maxillofacial Enqvist, von Konow & Bystedt, 1995)
surgery patients, possibly because of the reduced anxiety and lowered blood
pressure accompanying the suggestions.Suggestions have enhanced blood clotting
in severe hemophilia Swirsky-Sacchetti & Margolis, 1986).Increased blood
volume was increased in Raynaud's disease Conn & Mott, 1984).Hypnosis in the
successful treatment of asthma has been demonstrated e.g., Collison, 1975; Ewer
& Stewart, 1986).The possible effect of hypnosis on T and B cell functioning,
neutrophil adhesiveness and other immunological factors may have important
implications for cancer and the psychology of healing e.g., Hall, 1982±83, Hall,
Minnes, Tosi & Olness, 1992; Hall, Mumma, Longo & Dixon, 1992; Ruzyla-Smith,
Barabasz, Barabasz & Warner, 1995).
CONCLUSIONS
Hypnosis has been shown to be a viable adjunct, alone or combined with other
psychological interventions, for the treatment of a number of physiological and