Efficacy of hypnotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders.

Abstract

Research on the efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of eating disorders has produced mixed findings. This is due in part to the interplay between the characteristics of people with eating disorders and the phenomena of hypnosis. In addition, several authors have noted that methodological limitations in hypnosis research often make evaluation of treatment efficacy difficult. Many of the studies extant provide insufficient information regarding the specifics of the hypnotic intervention(s) to facilitate replication and clinical implementation. Therefore, this paper only reviews literature with replicable methodological descriptions. It focuses on the three primary disorders of interest to clinicians: bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and obesity. The implications for evaluating treatment efficacy are discussed.

• Authors: Marianne Barabasz
• Journal: The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis (Int J Clin Exp Hypn) Vol. 55 Issue 3 Pg. 318-35 (Jul 2007) ISSN: 0020-7144 [Print] England
• PMID: 17558721 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Feeding and Eating Disorders (therapy)
• Humans
• Hypnosis (methods)
• Obesity (therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Weight Loss