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As anyone with a chronic, inflammatory skin condition, such as psoriasis, rosacea or acne, knows, dealing with unpredictable flares can cause considerable stress and have a negative impact on a person’s overall well-being. Now, an ever-growing body of research shows how the complex link between the skin and the psyche – including the role of stress – affects skin conditions.

Treating chronic migraines with behavioral approaches – such as biofeedback, relaxation training, and hypnosis – can make financial sense compared to prescription-drug treatment, especially after a year or more, a new study found. Longtime behavioral therapy researcher and practitioner Dr. Donald Penzien, University of Mississippi Medical Center professor of psychiatry, coauthored the study.

People with PTSD may be in a state similar to hypnosis, and new research may help spot those prone to it. Around 30 percent of people surviving a traumatic event, such as a serious car crash, will go on to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Doctors don’t know who is susceptible and treating people who don’t have PTSD can make things worse. However, new research by psychologist Dr Peter Naish, of the Open University, and his colleague Dr Ksenja da Silva, may help. Check the end of this report for a link to download the original dissertation.

A new study of children and adolescents with Tourette Syndrome finds that self-hypnosis taught with the aid of videotape training reduced their symptoms and improved their quality of life. The authors, Jeffrey Lazarus, M.D., and Susan K. Klein, M.D., Ph.D., were with University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine at the time of the study. The results will be published published online in the July issue of the Journal of Development and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Readers interested in pain management, hypnosis, or neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback) may want to take the time to read the brief, well written article, “Hypnosis for Chronic Pain Management: A New Hope.” The author (Mark P. Jensen, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine) speaks to three trends in hypnosis’ role in pain [...]

Hypnosis can help alleviate the pain and suffering experienced by women being treated for breast cancer, according to a study by a University at Buffalo School of Social Work professor. The randomized trial measured pain and suffering, frequency of pain, and degree of constant pain among 124 women with metastatic breast cancer, according to Lisa [...]

Hypnosis has potential therapeutic value in children with respiratory disorders for alleviating symptoms such as habit cough or unexplained sensations of difficulty breathing and for lessening a child’s discomfort during medical procedures. Proper utilization of hypnosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment and its ability to use the mind-body connection to bring about physiological changes [...]

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics (part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) released findings on Americans’ use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The findings are from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual in-person survey of Americans regarding their health and illness related experiences. The CAM section gathered information on 23,393 adults aged 18 years or older and 9,417 children aged 17 years and under. Of interest to many of our readers, treatments such as biofeedback, diaphragmatic breathing, hypnosis, meditation, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation are included in the analysis.