The neural trance: a new look at hypnosis.

Hypnosis has evolved from being viewed as a mystical experience or sleep state to a psychological shift in concentration that activates preexisting neurophysiological circuitry. Hypnotizability exists on a spectrum with biological and psychosocial components. When the Hypnotic Induction Profile shows synchrony between these components (an intact flow), psychotherapy is the primary treatment, with medication secondary or unnecessary. When there is a lack of synchrony between biological factors (measured by the Eye-Roll sign) and psychosocial responsivity (a nonintact flow), medication becomes primary, with varying degrees of psychosocial support.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Hypnosis has had a gradual conceptual emergence from an alleged mystical experience, to sleep, to a psychological shift in concentration that activates a preexisting neuro-physiological circuitry. Data are presented to support the thesis that hypnotizability exists on a spectrum that has biological as well as psychosocial components. When there is synchrony between the bio-psychosocial components of hypnotizability as measured by the Hypnotic Induction Profile (an intact flow), psychotherapy is the primary treatment strategy, with medication secondary or not at all. When measurement reveals a lack of synchrony between biological factors as measured by the Eye-Roll sign and psychosocial responsivity (a nonintact flow), medication will be primary, with different degrees of psychosocial support.