Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
The Relationship of Cognitive Impairment to Hypnotic Susceptibility in a Sample of Elderly: A Pilot Study
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Copy link · social · email
Abstract
The relationship between cognitive impairment and hypnotic susceptibility in elderly individuals was investigated. The Stanford Hypnotic Suggestibility Scale (SHSS; Form C Modified) was administered to 30 volunteers between the ages of 65-87 who had been evaluated for cognitive impairment. The sample consisted of 14 normal controls, 8 subjects with mild Alzheimer’s disease, and 8 subjects with mild cognitive impairment. No significant differences between groups were found on performance on the SHSS. Results suggest that that hypnosis may be a useful adjunct to enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for elderly patients with mild dementia.
KeywordsHypnotic SuggestibilityNormal AgingAlzheimer’s DiseaseMild Cognitive Impairment
- Braak, H., & Braak, E. (1995). Staging of Alzheimer’s disease-related neurofibrillary changes. Neurobiology of Aging, 16, 271-278. doi:10.1016/0197-4580(95)00021-6
- Braffman, W., & Kirsch, I. (1999). Imaginative suggestibility and hypnotizability: An empirical analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 578-587. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.77.3.578
- Cherniack, E. P. (2008). Potential applications for alternative medicine to treat obesity in an aging population. Alternative Medicine Review, 13, 34-42.
- Elkins, G., White, J., Patel, P., Marcus, J., Perfect, M. M., & Montgomery, G. H. (2006). Hypnosis to manage anxiety and pain associated with colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening: Case studies and possible benefits. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 54, 416-431. doi:10.1080/00207140600856780
- Faymonville, M. E., Boly, M., & Laureys, S. (2006). Functional neuroanatomy of the hypnotic state. Journal of Physiology, Paris, 99, 483-491. doi:10.1016/j.jphysparis.2006.03.018
- Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., McHugh, P. R., & Fanjiang, G. (2001). Mini-mental state examination user’s guide. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
- Gay, M. C., Philippot, P., & Luminet, O. (2002). Differential effectiveness of psychological interventions for reducing osteoarthritis pain. European Journal of Pain, 6, 1-16. doi:10.1053/eujp.2001.0263
- Hilgard, E. R. (1965). Hypnosis. Annual Review of Psychology, 16, 157-180. doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.16.020165.001105
- Luskin, F. M., Newell, K. A., Griffith, M., Holmes, M., Telles, S., DiNucci, E., et al. (2000). A review of mind/body therapies in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders with implications for the elderly. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 6, 46-56.
- Lutgendorf, S., Lang, E. V., Berbaum, K. S., Russell, D., Berbaum, M. L., Logan, H., et al. (2007). Effects of age on responsiveness to adjunct hypnotic analgesia during invasive medical procedures. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69, 191-199. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31803133ea
- Milling, L. S., Coursen, E. L., Shores, J. S., & Waszkiewicz, J. A. (2010). The predictive utility of hypnotizability: The change in suggestibility produced by hypnosis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78, 126-130. doi:10.1037/a0017388
- Montgomery, G. H., DuHamel, K. N., & Redd, W. H. (2000). A meta- analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia: How effective is hypnosis? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 48, 138-153. doi:10.1080/00207140008410045