Irina Holdevici

P-1136 - The efficiency of ericksonian hypnosis in diminishing stress and procrastination in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Hypnosis represents a modified conscience state with a natural character. The phenomenology of anxiety disorders, the issues related to stress and procrastination are connected subjectively and objectively to the state of tension experienced by a person. Ericksonian hypnosis is a method recommended in the psychotherapy of people suffering from anxiety. Studies have shown at least two advantages for the patients: the deep state of relaxation and hypnotic transe representing a facilitating context for guided imagery, which plays and important part in treating anxiety. The main objective of the present paper was to asses the efficiency of Ericksonian hypnosis in the psychotherapeutic intervention which targets diminishing stress and procrastination at patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. A number of 60 patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, aged between 27–48 years, have been tested pre and post applying Ericksonian hypnosis techniques. The anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983), stress was evaluated with the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1994) and procrastination was measured with the Lay Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1987). A correlation analysis has been used and also the ANOVA. The results have shown that using Ericksonian hypnosis suggestion leads to decreasing the level of stress and the anxiety level. Results analysis has also shown a lower procrastination score among the patients. While the findings of the present study should be generalized only with caution, our results suggest that interventions with Ericksonian hypnosis techniques can reduce stress and procrastination at patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

Theoretical insertions regarding Cognitive-Behavioral and Hypnotherapeutic interventions applied in Hypochondriac affections

In DSM-IV-TR, the main characteristic of hypochondria is the individual’s concern regarding the existence of worries related to the possible existence of a serious medical condition. This fact is based on the erroneous interpretation of corporal signs and sensations. The utilized Cognitive-Behavioral model in explaining the hypochondriac disorder allowed the drawing of a complex tableau regarding the illness. Additionally this model allowed the structuring of a protocol which includes classic Cognitive-Behavioral techniques along with hypnotherapeutic approaches. This model protocol may lead to improving the amelioration of hypochondriac states and behaviors.