The effect of demonstrating to a subject that she is in a hypnotic trance as a variable in hypnotic interventions with obese women

Abstract

In order to investigate the question of whether or not Ss experiencing a phenomenon during trance which would be very unlikely to occur outside of trance improves the efficacy of hypnotic treatment for obesity, a S pool of obese women was divided into 3 groups: a non-hypnotic behavior modification group, a hypnosis group without any special phenomenon structured into it, and a hypnosis group with such a phenomenon (hand levitation). Weight-loss data were collected 4 weeks and 6 months after the start of treatment. All treatments resulted in at least moderate weight loss. Statistically significant differences were found between the hypnosis-with-hand-levitation treatment effect and the other treatment effects. Possible reasons for the treatment effects and the differences obtained are discussed.