In this article, I will discuss the relationship between psychoneuroimmunology and hypnotherapy. First, without addressing this relationship, let us start our article by defining psychoneuroimmunology. Although Solomon first coined the term psychoimmunology in 1964, it is noteworthy that there was very little human research in this field until the 1980s (Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2002). Psychoneuroimmunology, an important interdisciplinary field on which research has been focused over the past 40 years, has generally examined the interplay of the nervous system with the immune system and how mental processes modulate the function of the immune system (Daruna, 2012). It is thought that the origins of psychoneuroimmunology, which has an ever-expanding literature with the contributions of sciences such as psychiatry, neuroscience, immunology, physiology, genetics, pharmacology, molecular biology, endocrinology, and psychology, are based on the work of psychologist Robert Ader and immunologist Nicholas Cohen (1975). Here, while conducting a study on “taste escape” with mice, it was observed that after conditioning the mice with “cyclophosphamide-saccharin”, some mice died during their extinction behaviour. In addition, these deaths also show a change according to the saccharin amount it has been given. A case example that presents the success of treatment obtained as a result of conditioning a young person with systemic lupus erythematosus who received cyclophosphamide treatment in the following years with a similar protocol was found to be important in terms of showing that similar processes may be valid in humans (Olness & Ader, 1992).
So why was this the case?
It was here that Ader came up with an important hypothesis. According to him, while the mice were trying to escape from the substance “saccharin”, they were also trying to suppress their immune system under the influence of “cyclophosphamide”. So, whenever mice were exposed to saccharin, their immune systems were suppressed. Of course, Adel did not test this hypothesis on his own; he was accompanied by the immunologist Nicholas Cohen. The duo, too, sought to prove that their immune systems could be altered by classical conditioning (Ader & Cohen, 1975). As learning is one of the functions of the brain, Ader and Cohen have also demonstrated the connection between the brain and the immune system with this study.
Since psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is defined as the field that studies the link between the brain and the immune system, Azar (1999) stated that as a theoretical consequence of this link, psychological experiences such as stress can affect the functions of the immune system, which in turn can affect the disease process. In parallel with this theoretical solution, the most rapidly growing area in the PNI literature is the effect of stress on the immune system and the nervous system; many studies conducted in this context have stated that psychological stress can affect the production of antibodies by behavioural or neurobiological means.
In the psychoneuroimmunology literature, many studies have examined the inhibitory or reducing effects of stress-related suppression in the immune system of interventions that act as buffers against stress. Most of this research has shown that interventions for stress management or stress-reducing purposes are associated with improved immune function or improvement of stress-related changes in the immune system (Marshland, Bachen, Cohen and Manuck 2001).
What is the role of hypnotherapy in these studies?
As we have seen the connection of psychoneuroimmunology with stress, it is at this point that hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis (autohypnosis) significantly reduce the anxiety or stress of the individual, and this is true not only in cases of anxiety disorders but also in cases of any problem involving stress and anxiety (Smith, 1990). Research by Alizamar et al. (2018) found that individuals with high-stress levels before hypnotherapy significantly reduced stress levels after hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy, which has been determined to have a wide range of effects on various mental problems, stands out as a short-term and effective complementary therapy method.
Hypnotherapy, made to eliminate some phobias, stress, and depression seen in people, is becoming increasingly common as an alternative medicine method. Its increased use is observed in the application areas. Hypnotherapy consists of three parts. Entering a trance is a form of giving a person a suggestion and getting out of the trance. Entering a trance and being hypnotised is the most challenging stage. Here the person is aware of what is happening around him. However, there is drowsiness. The suggestions given to the hypnotised person are then sent to the subconscious. The messages sent to the subconscious are of great importance. Then the process of detraction takes place. Remember that suggestion is subconscious-level work. A conscious mind does not operate independently of past and present realities. For example, a person who has not been able to lose weight for years can be easily given hypnosis to lose weight easily through suggestion and to realise it. For this, the person must ask for it. As a result of therapy, people can look at life more positively and eliminate their diseases and obsessions.
Conditions for hypnotherapy: The person’s mindset to be hypnotised also may affect the hypnosis event. Therefore, people lacking particular abilities and mental breakdowns cannot be hypnotised. Attention is also important in hypnosis. In the swinging object method, if the patient does not pay attention to the object, performing the hypnosis may be challenging for the hypnotherapist.
Can you give some examples of hypnotherapy studies in this field?
There is some research on how effective hypnotherapy is in individuals. Eitner et al. reported that the techniques and suggestions applied to the individual during hypnotherapy sessions relieved the person and regulated blood pressure and heartbeat. In the hypnotherapy used in this study, the suggestions and practices called Dave Elman induction are known as the relaxation that occurs due to the formation of analgesia in the body by the self-hypnosis method. With the relaxation obtained, people can focus on their thoughts more easily, but they learn to think, discuss and direct the negative thoughts they are worried about more easily (Eitner et al., 2006).
Bryant et al. hypnotised 87 individuals with high-stress scores. Significant reductions were observed in the participants’ stress levels after the session (Bryant et al., 2005). In a case study conducted by Özer and Özmen (1999), it was seen that the stress score of the individual decreased significantly after five hypnotherapy sessions. In addition, it was observed that well-being continued during the 1-year follow-up period (Özer & Özmen, 1999).
The main task of the psychotherapist in interviews is to learn the person’s expectations from hypnotherapy and to increase the individual’s positive thoughts and problem-solving skills with appropriate suggestions (Yapko, 2010). Positive expectations and beliefs of individuals from hypnotherapy will increase the efficiency of the sessions (Schoenberger et al., 1997)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ader R, Cohen N (1975). Behaviorally conditioned immunosuppression. Psychosom Med, 37:333-340.
Alizamar, A., Ifdil, I., Fadli, R. P., Erwinda, L., Zola, N., Churnia, E. and Rangka, I. B. (2018). The effectiveness of hypnotherapy in reducing stress levels.Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment, 17(4), 191- 19
Azar B (1999). Father of PNI Reflects on the Field’s Growth. APA Monitor, 30(6). Retrieved July 23, 2007, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/jun99/ pni.htm
Bryant, R. A., Moulds, M. L., Guthrie, R. M. & Nixon, R. D. (2005). The additive benefit of hypnosis and cognitive-behavioural therapy in treating acute stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,73(2), 334–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.73.2.334.
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, McGuire L, Robles TF, Glaser R (2002). Psychoneuroimmunology: psychological influences on immune function and health. J Consult Clin Psychol, 70:537-547.
Daruna JH (2012). Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology, 2nd ed. San Diego, Elsevier Academic Press.
Marshland AL, Bachen EA, Cohen S, Manuck SB (2001). Stress, Immunity, and Susceptibility to Infectious Disease. A Baum, TA Revenson, JE Singer (eds.), Handbook of Health Psychology, New Jersey, Erlbaum, s. 683–695.
Smith, W. H. (1990). Hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 54(2), 209.
Eitner, S., Wichmann, M., Schultze-Mosgau, S., Schlegel, A., Leher, A., Heckmann, J., Heckmann, S. and Holst, S. (2006). Neurophysiologic and long-term effects of clinical hypnosis in oral and maxillofacial treatment-A comparative interdisciplinary clinical study. International Journal of Clinical Experimental Hypnosis, 54(4), 457-479. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207140600856897
Yapko, M. D. (2010). Hypnosis in the treatment of depression: An overdue approach for encouraging skilful mood management. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 58(2), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207140903523137
Schoenberger, N. E., Kirsch, I., Gearan, P., Montgomery, G. & Pastyrnak, S. L. (1997). Hypnotic enhancement of a cognitive behavioural treatment for public speaking anxiety. Behaviour Therapy, 28(1), 127–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(97)80038-X.
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