Insomnia, Anxiety and Depression

Sleep and inflammatory response in adults: The effects of guided imagery and visualization on sleep and inflammatory response in cardiac surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial. – Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (Torino). 2015 Apr; 54 (2): pp 269-79.. Anbar RD, Slowthower MP.

Insomnia in adults: Treatment of insomnia in cancer patients using progressive muscle relaxation training.  –  J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1983 Sep;14(3): 251-6.. Cannici J, Malcolm R, Peek LA.

Insomnia in school-age children: Hypnosis for treatment of insomnia in school-age children: a retrospective chart review. – BMC Pediatr. 2006 Aug 16;6(1):23

Insomnia in adults: Treatment of insomnia in cancer patients using progressive muscle relaxation training.  –  J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1983 Sep;14(3): 251-6.. Cannici J, Malcolm R, Peek LA.

Children depression: Depression in Children and Youth: Applications of Hypnosis to Help Young People Help Themselves. In Yapko, MD (ed) Applying Hypnosis and Visualization in Treating Depression: Innovations in Clinical Practice. Routledge Press, New York (pp 189-216), 2006. – Fried, RIchard G., and Sadaf H. Hussain

Children anxiety:  Hypnosis and non-hypnotic techniques for reduction of pain and anxiety during painful procedures in children and adolescents with cancer. Journal of Pediatrics, 101(6), 1032-1035. Kohen DP, Murray K.

Anxiety toddlers: Imagine the Possibilities! Guided Imagery with Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers, Pediatric Nursing, (Jan 2016), Derbyshire SW, Whalley MG, Oakley DA.

The Swan and The Mermaid is only guided-meditation bedtime story audio specifically for ages 2 ½ – 6 years of age!

Allergies, Asthma, PTSD

Hay fever: Effect of self-hypnosis on hay fever symptoms – a randomized controlled intervention study …. “Of 79 randomised patients, 66 completed one, and 52 completed two seasons. Retrospective VAS scores yielded significant improvements in year 1 in patients who had learned self-hypnosis: pollinosis symptoms -29.2 (VAS score, range 0-100; SD 25.4; p < 0.001), restriction of well-being -26.2 (VAS score, range 0-100; SD 28.7; p < 0.001. In year 2, the control group improved significantly having learned the self-hypnosis method as well: pollinosis symptoms -24.8 (SD 29.1; p < 0.001), restriction of well-being -23.7 (SD 30.0; p < 0.001). Daily self-reports of subjects who learnt self-hypnosis do not show a significant improvement. The hazard ratio of reaching a critical flow of 70% in nasal provocation tests was 0.333 (95% CI 0.157-0.741) after having learnt and applied self-hypnosis.”)…. – Psychotherapy Psychosom. 2005;74(3):165-72..

Pediatric patients: Clinical Hypnosis as an Effective Adjunct in the Care of Pediatric Inpatients. Journal of Pediatrics pp 563-565, (2006)…. “Clinical hypnosis and meditation is an established part of the comprehensive treatment of numerous problems in ambulatory pediatrics. Two cases illustrate its utility with pediatric inpatients. These cases demonstrate clinical hypnosis as a teachable, practical, and non-pharmacological intervention that warrants further investigation in the inpatient setting.”… Journal of Pediatrics pp 563-565, (2006) – Zeltzer, L., & LeBaron, S. (1992).

Children PTSD: Guided meditation-relaxation in children with post-traumatic stress disorder…. ” As recovery rates in the treatment groups exceeded the expected rates of natural recovery, the study provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of NET as well as meditation-relaxation techniques when carried out by trained local counselors for the treatment of PTSD in children in the direct aftermath of mass disasters.”…. – Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies, (2009) Gale Document Number: A2111252248

Adult PTSD: Hypnosis and the treatment of post traumatic conditions: an evidence-based approach. – Lynn SJ, Cardena EInt J Clin Exp – Hypn. 2007;55(2):167-88..

PMS: Alleviation of premenstrual syndrome symptoms with the relaxation response… We conclude that regular elicitation of the relaxation response is an effective treatment for physical and emotional premenstrual symptoms, and is most effective in women with severe symptoms….  Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1990 Apr; 75 (4): 649-55.

Asthma in adults: Perspectives on complementary and alternative therapies in asthma.  Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, (November 2008) –  Li – Chi Chiang, Wei-FenMa, Jing-Long Huange

Asthma and anxiety in children: Effect of relaxation-breathing on anxiety and asthma: A randomized controlled trial…. “Anxiety was significantly lower for children in the experimental group than in the comparison group. ConDifferences in the other four physiological variables were also noted between pre- and post-intervention, but these changes did not differ significantly between groups…CONCLUSIONS: A combination of mind- body methods such as self-management and relaxation-breathing training can reduce anxiety, thus improving asthmatic children’s health. These results can serve as an evidence base for psychological nursing practice with asthmatic children.”…. – China Medical University and China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, August 2018 – Archer, Shirley Headaches – children and adolescents: Self-Hypnosis Training for Headaches in Children and Adolescents…. ” Training in self-hypnosis is associated with significant improvement of chronic recurrent headaches in children and adolescents.”…. Journal of Pediatrics, in press, 2007 – Kohen D.P. (We love Dr. Kohen!) and Zajac.tent goes here[/learn_more]

IBS, Gastrointestinal, Stomach Aches

Gastrointestinal disorders: Hypnotherapy for functional gastrointestinal disorders: a review….  ” These observations suggest that this form of treatment has considerable potential in aiding the management of functional gastrointestinal disorders and should be integrated into the ongoing medical care that these patients are receiving”….  – Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Jul;57(3):279-92 .

Recurrent abdominal pain in children:  A pilot study of the use of guided imagery for the treatment of recurrent abdominal pain in children…. “The use of mind-body techniques such as relaxation and guided imagery is an effective and safe treatment for children with recurrent abdominal pain.”…. – Clinical Pediatrics, 42, 527-532 – Ball, T. M., Shapiro, D. E., Monheim, C. J., & Weydert, J. A. Whitehead WE.

IBS: Hypnosis for irritable bowel syndrome: The empirical evidence of therapeutic effects. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2006 Jan; 54 (1):7-20Hussain Z, Quigley EM.

IBS: Systematic review: Complementary and alternative medicine in the irritable bowel syndrome )…. “Several complementary and alternative therapies can be recommended as part of an evidence-based approach to the treatment of IBS; these might provide patients with satisfactory relief and improve the therapeutic alliance.”….
.Aliment Pharmacological Therapy. 2006; 23(4):465-71 Eremin, Oleg, et al.Moore LE, Wiener Sl. .

These citations are a small sample of of methodology used to research different mind and body strategies.

For more information visit a medical library with access to medical databases such as the GALE database. These medical libraries are available in most teaching hospitals and some other hospitals. You can also Google these citations, but most of the abstracts and texts for these studies are not available online, as this research is expensive and supported partly through proceeds from the medical journals that publish it.
Clinical research shows that mind body mind body techniques:

• Help people relax and fall asleep more quickly.
  Help children wake up less with night terrors and nightmares.
  Enhance sleep in people with insomnia
  Accelerate tissue, wound, and bone healing
  Boost the immune system
  Decrease anxiety in adults and children undergoing surgery
  Decrease pain in children, teens, adults, and seniors
  Decrease pulmonary symptoms such as asthma
  Help listeners relax, fall asleep more quickly, and wake up less during the night
  Help children cope with childhood problems such as issues with friends or school
  Help people with separation anxiety and social anxiety
  Help stroke victims recover motor control more quicklyHelp those suffering with Fibromyalgia
  Help with dental phobia
  Help with ADD and ADHD
  Improve mood and lessen symptoms of depression
  Improve sports performance
  Lessen the incidence and severity of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms
  Lesson the amount of pain medication used after surgery
  Reduce anxiety, stress, and panic attacks
  Reduce nausea and vomiting in children undergoing cancer treatment
  Reduce pain associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  Reduce severity and PMS and menstrual pain
  Reduce the intensity and treatment of headaches
  Relax pregnant women and their fetuses
  Strengthen the immune system

Some of the most interesting studies investigate how guided meditation can help stroke victims regain motor control and help the performance of athletes. Researchers hypothesize that in a relaxed state, certain parts of the brain can not tell the difference between performing an activity, (such as dancing) and vividly imagining performing the activity when in a relaxed state.

Research in which scientists studied the brain activity (through brain imaging) of monkeys performing an activity and monkeys watching another monkey perform the same activity seems to lend some credence to this hypothesis; the brain activity in both groups was very

Our relaxation/healing CDs adhere to the conclusions based on studies investigating the mind-body connection. In fact, they are used in many medical settings, including the procedure room in Boston Children’s Hopital