12 subjects from an experiment on relaxation therapy for asthma were given the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A. Full scale hypnotic susceptibility scores were positively correlated, at a borderline significance, with improvement in the methacholine challenge test, a measure of asthma severity. Performance on the amnesia item of the Harvard Group Scale was correlated with improvement in self-reported symptoms of asthma.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlexanderA. B. (1972) Systematic relaxation and flow rates in asthmatic children: Relationship to emotional precipitants and anxiety. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 16, 405–410.
2.
AlexanderA. B.MiklichD. R.HershkoffH. (1972) The immediate effects of systematic relaxation training on peak expiratory flow rates in asthmatic children. Psychosomatic Medicine, 34, 388–394.
3.
BatesD. V.MacklemP. T.ChristieR. V. (1971) Respiratory function in disease: An introduction to the integrated study of the lung. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
4.
BowersK. S.KellyP. (1979) Stress, disease, psychotherapy, and hypnosis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88, 490–505.
5.
ChaiH.FarrR. S.FroehlichL. A.MathisonD. A.McLeanJ. A.RosenthalR. R.ShefferA. L.IISpectorS. L.TownleyR. G. (1975) Standardization of bronchial inhalation challenge procedures. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 56, 323–327.
6.
CollisonD. (1968) Hypnotherapy in the management of asthma. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 11, 6–11.
7.
EdmundstonW. E. (1981) Hypnosis and relaxation: Modern verification of an old equation. New York: Wiley.
8.
ErskineJ.SchonellM. (1979) Relaxation therapy in bronchial asthma. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 23, 131–139.
9.
HallH. R. (1983) Hypnosis and the immune system: A review with implications for cancer and the psychology of healing. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 25, 92–103.
10.
HilgardE. R. (1965) Hypnotic susceptibility. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World.
11.
HockR. A.BrambleJ.KennardD. W. A. (1977) A comparison between relaxation and assertive training with asthmatic children. Biological Psychology, 12, 593–596.
12.
HortonD. J.SudaW. L.KinsmanR.SouhdradaJ.SpectorS. L. (1978) Bronchoconstrictive suggestion in asthma: A role for airways hyperreactivity and emotions. American Review of Respiratory Diseases, 117, 1029–1038.
13.
JacobsonE. (1938) Progressive relaxation. Chicago, IL: Univer. of Chicago Press.
14.
Jansen-BjerkliiS.BousheyH. A.CarrieriV. K.LindseyA. M. (1986) Emotionally triggered asthma as a predictor of airway response to suggestion. Research in Nursing and Health, 9, 163–170.
15.
KornfeldA. D. (1985) Hypnosis and behavior therapy: II. Contemporary developments. International Journal of Psychosomatics, 32, 13–17.
16.
LehrerP. M. (1985a) Progressive relaxation. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
17.
LehrerP. M. (1985b) Progressive relaxation training. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
18.
LehrerP. M.HochronS. M.McCannB. S.SwartzmanL.RebaP. (1986) Relaxation decreases large-airway but not small-airway asthma. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 30, 13–25.
19.
LevaR. A. (1974) Modification of hypnotic susceptibility through audio-tape relaxation training: Preliminary report. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 39, 872–874.
20.
LewisR. A.LewisM. N.TattersfieldA. E. (1984) Asthma and suggestion: Psychological or physical?Agents and Actions, 13 (Suppl.), 71–79.
21.
Maher-LoughmanG. (1970) Hypnosis and auto-hypnosis for the treatment of asthma. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 18, 1–14.
22.
Maher-LoughmanG.MacDonaldN.MasonA.FryL. (1962) Controlled trial of hypnosis in the symptomatic treatment of asthma. British Medical Journal, 2, 371–376.
23.
McFaddenE. R.Jr.LuparelloT.LyonsH. A.BleekerE. (1969) The mechanism of action of suggestion in the induction of acute asthma attacks. Psychosomatic Medicine, 31, 143–153.
24.
MillerL. S.CrossH. J. (1985) Hypnotic susceptibility, hypnosis, and EMG biofeedback in the reduction of frontalis muscle tension. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 33, 258–272.
25.
MonteiroK.MacdonaldH.HilgardE. (1980) Imagery, absorption and hypnosis: A functional study. Journal of Mental Imagery, 4, 63–81.
26.
NeildJ. E.CameronI. R. (1985) Bronchoconstriction in response to suggestion: Its prevention by an inhaled anticholinergic agent. British Medical Journal (Clinical Research), 290, 674.
27.
PhilipR. L.WildeG. J. S.DayJ. H. (1972) Suggestion and relaxation in asthmatics. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 16, 193–204.
28.
RadkeH. L.SpanosN. P.ArmstrongL. A.DillmanN.BoisvenueM. E. (1983) Effects of electromyographic feedback and progressive relaxation training in hypnotic susceptibility: Disconforming results. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 31, 98–106.
29.
ShorR. E.OrneE. C. (1962) Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
30.
SimonM. J.SalzbergH. C. (1981) Electromyographic feedback and taped relaxation instructions to modify hypnotic susceptibility and amnesia. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 24, 114–121.
31.
SpringerC. J.SachsL. B.MorrowJ. E. (1977) Group methods of increasing hypnotic susceptibility. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 25, 185–191.
32.
TalloneJ MDiamondM. J.SteadmanC. (1975) Modifying hypnotic performance by means of brief sensory experience. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 23, 190–199.
33.
ThorneB. M.FisherA. G. (1978) Hypnotically suggested asthma. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 26, 92–103.
34.
TownleyR. G.RyoU. V.KolotkinB. M.KangB. (1975) Bronchial sensitivity to methacholine in current and former asthmatic and allergic rhinitis patients and control subjects. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 56, 429–442.
35.
WickramasekeraI. (1983) Effects of electromyographic biofeedback on hypnotic susceptibility: More preliminary data. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 82, 74–77.
36.
WickramasekeraI. (1985) A conditioned response model of the placebo effect: Predictions from the model. In WhiteL.TurskyB. (Eds.), Placebo: Theory, research and mechanisms. New York: Guilford. Pp. 255–287.