Hypnotic enhancement of a cognitive behavioral treatment for public speaking anxiety

Nancy E. Schoenberger, Irving Kirsch, Paul Gearan, Guy Montgomery, Steven L. Pastyrnak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effectiveness of a multidimensional cognitive behavioral treatment for public speaking anxiety was compared with that of the same treatment supplemented by hypnosis. The hypnotic treatment included all components of the cognitive behavioral treatment. It differed from the nonhypnotic treatment only in that relaxation training was presented as a hypnotic induction, automatic thoughts were referred to as self-suggestions, and explicit hypnotic suggestions for improvement were added. Participants in both treatment conditions improved more than those in a wait-list control group. Moreover, labeling the treatment 'hypnotic' appeared to enhance treatment effectiveness. The hypnotic treatment generated expectancies for greater change among participants than did the nonhypnotic treatment, and these expectancies were correlated with treatment outcome. Implications for the use of hypnosis in treatment are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)127-140
Number of pages14
JournalBehavior Therapy
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

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