A comparison of hypnotic and waking learning of the international morse code

Two patients undergoing surgery for pedicle attachments of the right ankle above the left knee because of gunshot wounds were taught hypnotic techniques to use during the post-operative period of attachment to alleviate pain and discomfort. Training sessions for one and one-half weeks consisted of developing a systematic procedure involving 5 phases: (1) progressive relaxation, (2) arm levitation, (3) deepening, (4) self-relaxation, and (5) waking. Results indicated that, following the initial post-operative period of 5 to 6 days, where some pain medication was given, the patients were able to maintain themselves thereafter without requiring medication for pain for 16 and 19 days, respectively. Knee pain, which is almost invariably experienced, was not encountered by these patients and no post-operative complications were evidenced. Motivation and morale were excellent and both patients were cooperative and able to help care for themselves.     

Motor imagery in hypnosis: accuracy and duration of motor imagery in waking and hypnotic states

This study assessed response times and accuracy of motor imagery in waking and hypnotic states and to related responses to hypnotic experiences. The Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ) was administered to 47 participants. A mental walking task was then performed in the waking state. In hypnosis, the same task was included within an imaginary journey after a hypnotic induction. An interaction effect showed for condition (waking vs. hypnotic) and distances. The further the participants had to walk in imagination, the longer they took. For all combinations, participants took significantly longer in hypnosis (p < .001) and were significantly less accurate in hypnosis in reproducing the difference between the different distances (p < .001). Results appear to show a relationship between motor imagery and hypnotic responding and support a state-trait conception of imagery.     

Measuring hypnotic responsiveness: A comparison of the barber suggestibility scale and the stanford hypnotic susceptibility scale,form a

The Barber Suggestibility Scale (BSS) and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form A (SHSS:A) were administered, under both imagination and hypnotic-induction instructions, to 2 samples of 40 high-school students. The 2 scales were sufficiently correlated (.62 to .78, for objective and subjective scores) to indicate that, in general, they measure responses in the same broad domain. There is, however, a greater discrepancy between objective and subjective scores on the BSS than on the SHSS:A. The subjective scores are not independent of the objective scores, but correct the objective scores for pressure toward social compliance. Both scales are satisfactory for preliminary S-selection but limited as criteria for the range of hypnotic responsiveness.     

A comparison of thalidomide and pentobarbital - new methods for identifying novel hypnotic drugs

We have compared the sleep-producing effects of thalidomide and pentobarbital. In a dose range that did not produce ataxia, thalidomide increased slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep in cats (2-8 mg/kg p.o.) and rats (16 mg/kg p.o.). Pentobarbital had hypnotic activity in the same dose range but produced ataxia also at these doses. Thalidomide reduced spontaneous activity of both mice and rats. This occurred over a dose range of 8 to 1000 mg/kg p.o., but plateaued at a level of activity well above the complete inactivity of anesthesia that occurred with pentobarbital at well above the complete inactivity of anesthesia that occurred with pentobarbital at doses (greater than or equal to 32 mg/kg p.o.) above the hypnotic range. Several simple screens for thalidomide-like activity have been described which, together, could facilitate the search for thalidomide-like hypnotics. Pentobarbital, at doses 3 to 10 times the hypnotic range, prevented audiogenic seizures in physically dependent rats withdrawn from sodium barbital but thalidomide did not substitute for barbiturates even at doses 30 times those that increased sleep. Thalidomide, but not pentobarbital, enhanced the sleep-producing effect of electrical stimulation of basal forebrain in cats. The latter two findings suggest that thalidomide probably has a mechanism of action different from that of pentobarbital and that this may involve the activation of a sleep center in the forebrain.     

A comparison of the hypnotic activity of loprazolam, temazepam and placebo in general practice

One hundred and ninety-seven patients exhibiting a disturbed sleep pattern were recruited by thirty-five general practitioners into this single-blind randomized parallel group multicentre study. There were twelve patient withdrawals or drop-outs leaving sixty-one, sixty-three and sixty-one patients who, following 2 nights on placebo as baseline, completed 5 consecutive nights of treatment on loprazolam (1 mg), temazepam (20 mg) and placebo, respectively. Loprazolam and temazepam were found to have similar hypnotic activity with both treatments being superior to placebo. There was no statistical difference in the side-effect profile of the three treatment groups.     

Subject posture and hypnotic susceptibility: A comparison of standing,sitting, and lyingdown subjects

Because of the prominence of relaxation instructions and suggestions of sleep within common hypnotic induction procedures, it seemed a reasonable conjecture that, in comparison to the customary sitting posture, a lying-down posture would facilitate hypnosis and a standing posture inhibit it. A preliminary experiment, using a slightly modified, tape-recorded Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C, failed to support either hypothesis. A subsequent experiment under improved conditions with 20 Ss in each group (standing, sitting, and lying down) also showed no significant difference of mean hypnotic susceptibility scores between any 2 of the conditions.

Although Ss expressed dislike for the standing posture, the only objective disadvantage seemed to be some dizziness or nausea generated for some Ss (5 out of 39 tested in the standing condition). No clear evidence exists that this effect is to be attributed to hypnosis rather than to standing with eyes closed for an appreciable time.

The results show that hypnotic behavior may be little affected by the concomitant requirements of maintaining a standing or sitting posture, even with the use of an induction which emphasizes relaxation.     

A comparison of two needs assessments methods: Clinical recall interviews and focus groups

A project was conducted to determine physician learning needs in two areas of psychiatry: panic disorder and depression. Focus groups and clinical recall interviews were both used to determine learning needs, and a comparison was conducted of the two techniques. Both methods provided similar data. Clinical recall interviews gave better quantification of data. Focus groups identified unsolicited information about the problems physicians were having diagnosing illnesses and managing patients. Focus groups were less expensive for the continuing medical education (CME) provider. Recruitment for the clinical recall interviews was more easily done. Both techniques can be helpful for determining learning needs from which to develop CME programming, although an awareness of the strengths and limitations of each technique is important.     

A. comparison of hypnotic susceptibility as assessed by diagnostic ratings and initial standardized test scores

In a nonrandom sample of 63 Ss, a correlation of .79 was found between Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form A (SHSS:A) of Weitzenhoffer and Hilgard (1959) scores and diagnostic ratings of hypnotizability. This degree of correlation corresponds to an index of forecasting efficiency of 36.8%. Limitations on the interpretation of this finding both as a validity coefficient and as an indicant of the predictive value of SHSS: A are discussed.     

A comparison of the performance of hypnotic subjects and simulators on a variety of measures: A pilot study

Hypnotized Ss were compared with 2 simulator groups on 21 hypnotic procedures yielding a total of 60 measurements. Comparisons required 180 statistical analyses of which 7 attained statistical significance. An additional 14 analyses were considered to be suggestive although not statistically significant.     

"A comparison of the effectiveness of two hypnotic agents for the treatment of insomnia"

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and tolerability of two hypnotic agents, trazadone (Desyrel) and zaleplon (Sonata) on psychiatric inpatients with insomnia. METHODS: Fifteen patients who were psychiatric inpatients were assigned openly and randomly to receive either trazodone (50-100 mg) or zaleplon (10-20 mg) doses on an "as-needed basis" and followed throughout their hospital stay. Efficacy and side effect profile were subsequently assessed. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that trazodone may be a better agent to promote longer, deeper subjective quality sleep for psychiatric inpatients with insomnia in terms of effectiveness. However, tolerability was much better with zaleplon as daytime residual side effects were less.