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By Gianluca Riccio
Stanford University has taken an interesting step in the field of mental health and pain treatment. Researchers have succeeded in systematically inducing temporary hypnotizability in patients, offering new hope for those struggling with chronic pain. This discovery could mean a radical change in hypnosis therapies, allowing more individuals to benefit from this practice.
A window into the brain
The Stanford Medicine team led by Afik Faerman and David Spiegel used transcranial magnetic stimulation to influence specific areas of the brain. The researchers found that less than two minutes of stimulation in a specific brain region they can increase an individual’s hypnotizability for about an hour.
This is particularly significant since the ability to induce a state of hypnosis on a subject was considered, until now, a stable and immutable trait comparable to personality and IQ. You can find the complete study here.
The potential of hypnosis in treatment
Hypnosis has long been recognized as an effective treatment for a wide range of symptoms and disorders, particularly pain management. However, its effectiveness varies greatly between individuals due to differences in hypnotizability. With this new technique, more people could benefit from hypnosis-based therapies, offering alternatives to conventional treatments such as prolonged use of opioids.
The success of this study paves the way for broader personalization of psychological therapies. The possibility of altering stable traits of the brain suggests that we may be able to optimize therapies for each patient’s specific needs. And this could have implications not only for hypnotherapy but also for other types of psychological interventions.
The promise of neurostimulation
Neurostimulation, a non-invasive technique, shows extraordinary potential to alter cognitive traits previously considered immutable. This study may just be the beginning of a new era in the fields of psychotherapy and neuroscience, where targeted interventions can be used to improve response to treatment.
Stanford’s research (now combined with robust laboratory testing and system refinements) applied on a large scale could represent a substantial change in clinical practice. Doctors could integrate neurostimulation into their therapies, making hypnosis a more accessible and effective option for a wider range of patients.
This approach could also reduce reliance on opioid medications, often prescribed for chronic pain but with significant risks of addiction and side effects. And there’s more.
Beyond Pain: Other Applications for Hypnosis
Although the focus of the study is on chronic pain, the implications go far beyond. The ability to temporarily change stable traits of the brain suggests that we may be able to optimize therapies and hypnosis for a variety of psychological conditions. Which? For example, anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Additionally, the research could stimulate investigations into how other forms of neurostimulation can be used to improve patients’ quality of life.
Future perspectives
This study lays the foundation for future research on neurostimulation and hypnotherapy. The researchers plan to test different doses of neurostimulation to evaluate whether it is possible to further enhance the ease of practicing hypnosis on patients.
There is still work to be done, but the promise of more personalized and effective therapy is exciting.