News

August Research Snippet: Hypnosis, Pain, Expectation & Placebo

This snippet discusses a recent experimental study which attempted to quantify (as a percentage) the extent to which expectation contributed to the pain-reducing effects of hypnosis, imagination, and a placebo medication. Strong evidence was derived from statistical analysis suggesting that the effect of hypnotism is “partially-mediated” by expectation, albeit to a lesser degree than the placebo effect.

July Research Snippet: Competing Theories of Hypnosis

A recent series of articles compared the influential “sociocognitive” and “response expectancy” theories of hypnosis with Alfred Barrios’ “conditioning and inhibition” theory, which reprises elements of Pavlov’s theory of hypnotic suggestion. This snippet outlines the opposing theories and research findings cited in favour of the sociocognitive position.

jo1

Research Director

Jo Hand joined the Board as Director of Research in October 2018. She is a clinical hypnotherapist and NLP coach and her business is based in two locations, in Evesham…

May Research Snippet: Multiple Sclerosis

May Research Snippet. Some updates on research news and a short discussion of a recent study comparing self-hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation in the treatment of chronic pain in multiple sclerosis. The role of expectation and hypnotic susceptibillity are examined.