The relaxation response and hypnosis

Authors
Herbert Benson, Patricia A. Arns, John W. Hoffman
Publication
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
Volume 29, Issue 3, pp259-270
Abstract

Procedures for self- and hetero-hypnotic induction and for the elicitation of the relaxation response appear to be similar. Further, before experiencing hypnotic phenomena, either during a traditional or an active induction, a physiological state exists which is comparable to the relaxation response. This state is characterized, in part, by decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. After the physiological changes of the relaxation response occur, the individual proceeds to experience other exclusively hypnotic phenomena, such as perceptual distortions, age regression, posthypnotic suggestion, and amnesia.

Related Listings
The Efficacy of the Relaxation Response in Prep...
Authors
Jane Leserman, PhD, Ellen M. Stuart, MS, Mary E. Mamish, BA, Herbert Benson, MD
Journal
Behavioral Medicine
·
This study evaluated the efficacy of the relaxation response on the postoperative recovery of 27 cardiac surgery patients randomly assigned to one of two groups. Thirteen experimental group patients received educational information and practiced eliciting the relaxation response before and after surgery. The 14 patients in the control group received only information. Experimental and control groups were compared before and after surgery on both physiological and psychological recovery […]
Kundalini Yoga Meditation Versus the Relaxation...
Authors
David Shannahoff-Khalsa, Rodrigo Yacubian Fernandes, Carlos A. de B. Pereira, John S. March, James F. Leckman, Shahrokh Golshan, Mario S.R. Vieira, Guilherme V. Polanczyk, Euripedes C. Miguel, Roseli G. Shavitt
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often a life-long disorder with high psychosocial impairment. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are the only FDA approved drugs, and approximately 50% of patients are non-responders when using a criterion of 25% to 35% improvement with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). About 30% are non-responders to combined first-line therapies (SRIs and exposure and response prevention). Previous research (one open, one randomi […]
A one year follow-up of relaxation response med...
Authors
L Keefer, E B Blanchard
Journal
Behaviour Research Therapy
·
Ten of thirteen original participants with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) participated in a one year follow-up study to determine whether the effects of Relaxation Response Meditation (RRM) on IBS symptom reduction were maintained over the long-term. From pre-treatment to one-year follow-up, significant reductions were noted for the symptoms of abdominal pain (p=0.017), diarrhea (p=0.045), flatulence (p=0.030), and bloating (p=0.018). When we examined changes from the original three m […]