Treatments for Nicotine Addiction - Hypnotherapy

Question 1

What is hypnotherapy?

Answer 1

Uses hypnosis to try and change habits

Question 2

What does hypnotherapy aim to do?

Answer 2

Aims to break negative behaviour and thinking patterns associated with smoking

Thoughts and behaviours the smoker holds is often what prevents them from successfully giving up

Key aspect/focus is to let go of the routine and change their perspective of cigarettes

Question 3

What is hypnosis?

Answer 3

Trained hypnotherapist induces a state of intense concentration

Process uses verbal cues and repetition

Smoker enters a deep state of relaxation but remains fully aware of what is going on

Question 4

What happens during a hypnotherapy session?

Answer 4

Smoker is first hypnotised and put into a deeply relaxed state

During this time the mind is more open to suggestion

Suggestibility is the state in which the smoker will willingly take on board ideas put to them by the therapist

Therapist can guide them to change their perspective of cigarettes and smoking

Question 5

What suggestions are made by the hypnotherapist?

Answer 5

Hypnotherapist will guide the smoker through the session and encourage them to imagine different scenarios

Any suggestions made must be positive and devoid of ambiguity

Hypnotherapist may ask the individual to imagine unpleasant smells and feelings that they can associate with smoking

Question 6

What is self-hypnosis?

Answer 6

Self-hypnosis are transferable skills which the smoker can implement themselves outside of the therapy sessions

Sometimes involves audiotapes that the smoker will listen to

Question 7

What is Spiegel’s method?

Answer 7

A self-hypnosis technique that clients can practice at home

Encourages smokers to employ affirmations based on three ideas

This technique is distracting the attention away from abstinence by ignoring it altogether

Question 8

What are the three ideas in Spiegel’s method?

Answer 8

Smoking is a poison for your body

You need your body to live

To the extent that you want to live, you owe your body respect and protection

Question 9

What is the supporting evidence/strengths of hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 9

Green & Lynn (2000)

Schmidt (1992)

No adverse side effects

Question 10

What is the refuting evidence/weaknesses of hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 10

Cochrane review (2010)

Not suitable for everyone

Long term

Ethical issues

Social control

Question 11

Why is Green & Lynn (2000) supporting evidence for hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 11

Green & Lynn reviewed the results of 59 studies of hypnosis and smoking cessation and found that hypnosis was superior to a wait-list control group, which makes hypnosis an empirically supported treatment for smoking cessation

Question 12

Why is Schmidt (1992) supporting evidence for hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 12

Schmidt used a meta-analysis and included 48 studies of hypnosis covering 6000 smokers

Results clearly showed that hypnosis was the most effective treatment for smoking cessation

Question 13

Why is no adverse side effects a strength of hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 13

Hypnosis is a natural healing remedy and has no adverse side effects or interactions

This may be preferable to some people who don’t wish to experience the side effects associated with treatments such as NRT

Question 14

Why is the Cochrane Review (2010) refuting evidence for hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 14

Cochrane review on Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation a meta-analysis considered the effectiveness of hypnotherapy regarding whether smokers were abstinent for at least 6 months

Concluded that hypnotherapy has no greater effect than other interventions/treatments for smoking

Question 15

Why is not being suitable for everyone a weakness of hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 15

Hypnotherapy isn’t a suitable treatment for everyone

e.g. if an individual is affected by psychosis or certain types of personality disorder, hypnotherapy could make these conditions worse

Question 16

Why is long term a weakness of hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 16

Hypnotherapy isn’t a quick fix, in most cases 4-6 sessions along with learning self-hypnosis is needed for the full effects of hypnotherapy to create permanent behaviour change

Can make hypnotherapy a more expensive option as its unlikely to be offered on the NHS

Question 17

Why is ethical issues a weakness of hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 17

Some concerns on ethical grounds regarding the use of hypnotherapy

Therapist must carefully avoid the implantation of false memories whilst the client is in a hypnotic trance and ensure that the client is made fully aware that memories experienced while in a suggestible state aren’t real and valid memories

Question 18

Why is social control a weakness of hypnotherapy as a treatment for nicotine addiction?

Answer 18

There is a danger that therapists may make assumptions about what their client needs

Highly important that any changes a client is guided to make, having been induced into a hypnotic state, are in accordance with goals established beforehand and clearly understood by both client and therapist