Feasibility of clinical hypnosis for the treatment of parkinson's disease: A case study

Gary Elkins, Jim Sliwinski, Juliette Bowers, Elmyra Encarnacion

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder with a prevalence rate of approximately 1.6% in elderly Americans. This case study reports on a 51-year-old male Parkinson's patient who received 3 weekly sessions of a hypnosis intervention, as well as instruction in self-hypnosis. Actigraphy was used to assess rest-tremor severity. Results revealed a 94% reduction in rest tremors following treatment. Self-reported levels of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, pain, stiffness, libido, and quality of life also showed improvements. The patient reported a high level of satisfaction with treatment. These findings suggest clinical hypnosis is potentially feasible and beneficial treatment for some Parkinson's symptoms. Further investigation with diverse samples and an ambulatory monitoring device is warranted.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)172-182
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
Volume61
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Complementary and Manual Therapy
  • Clinical Psychology

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