Finally, the truth is revealed about antidepressants. Lead researcher, Professor Irving Kirsch from the Psychology department at the University of Hull, said, “The difference in improvement between patients taking placebos and patients taking antidepressants is not very great. This means that depressed people can improve without chemical treatments. Given these results, there seems little reason to prescribe antidepressant medication to any but the most severely depressed patients, unless treatments have failed to provide a benefit. This study raises serious issues that need to be addressed surrounding drug licensing and how drug trial data is reported.”

The University of Hull is located in the City of Hull situated in East Yorkshire, UK. The University is a progressive university featuring world-class teaching and research. Their teaching skills are highly rated in national quality assessments and is of international acclaim in many fields, the quality of which informs their teaching at all levels.

The research analysis showed that in comparison to placebo effects, antidepressants do not have clinically significant effects in mildly depressed people or in most people, who suffer from very severe depression. Furthermore, the apparent clinical effectiveness of antidepressants in the small group of extremely depressed people is somewhat distorted. The seemingly good result came from fact that these people’s response to the placebo decreased, rather than any notable increase in their response to antidepressants.

Furthermore, in a comparative study of Behavior Therapy, Psychoanalysis and Hypnotherapy published by American Health Magazine, this study reveals that Hypnotherapy is highly effective in the treatment of people, who have mental health issues.

Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions

Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions

Hypnotherapy 93% recovery after 6 sessions

Other studies include:

A comparative study of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy in the treatment of methadone addicts. Manganiello AJ. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 1984; 26(4): 273-9.

Significant differences were found on all measures. The experimental group had significantly less discomfort and illicit drug use, and a significantly greater amount of cessation. At six month follow up, 94% of the subjects in the experimental group who had achieved cessation remained narcotic free.

Intensive Therapy: Utilizing Hypnosis in the Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Jul 2004 by Greg Potter

Treatment was given to 18 clients over 7 years. A 77 per cent success rate was maintained at the 1-year follow-up. 15 were treated for alcoholism or alcohol abuse, 2 were treated for cocaine addiction, and 1 client was treated for marijuana addiction. American Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy (a publication of the American Psychological Association) 2004 Apr;46(4):281-97)

This research study on Self-hypnosis for relapse preventing training with chronic drug-/alcohol users showed raised Self-esteem & Serenity. Lowered Impulsivity and Anger Participants were 261 veterans admitted to Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (SARRTPs). Individuals who used repeated self-hypnosis, “at least 3 to 5 times a week,” at 7-week follow-up, reported the highest levels of self-esteem and serenity, and the least anger/impulsivity, in comparison to the minimal-practice and control groups.

The use of hypnosis in cocaine addiction. Page RA, Handley GW. Ohio State University, Lima 45804. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 1993 Oct;36(2):120-3.

The subject was a female in her twenties. Hypnosis was successfully used to overcome a five gram per day cocaine addiction of approximately eight months. She decided to use hypnosis. She used hypnosis three times a day for four months, her addiction was eliminated. She has been drug free for nine years. Hypnosis was the only intervention.

University of Washington School of Medicine, Depts. of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2001 Jul;49(3):257-66. Barber J.

90.6% Success Rate Using Hypnosis. Of 43 consecutive people undergoing this treatment protocol, 39 reported remaining abstinent at follow-up (6 months to 3 years post-treatment).

Texas A&M University – System Health Science Center College of Medicine, USA.
Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2004 Jan;52(1):73-81.

Thirty smokers enrolled in an HMO were referred by their primary physician for treatment. Twenty-one patients received hypnosis for smoking cessation. At the end of treatment, 81% reported that they had stopped smoking, and 48% reported abstinence at 12 months post-treatment.

University of Connecticut, Storrs – Allison DB, Faith MS. Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for obesity: a meta-analytic reappraisal. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(3):513-516.

Hypnosis Subjects Lost More Weight Than 90% of Others and Kept it Off – Researchers analyzed 18 studies comparing a cognitive behavioral therapy – relaxation training, guided imagery, self monitoring or goal setting with the same therapy supplemented by hypnosis. Those who received the hypnosis lost more weight than 90 percent of the non hypnosis, and maintained the weight loss two years after treatment ended.

Patterson DR. Ptacek JT. Baseline pain as a moderator of hypnotic analgesia for burn injury treatment. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology 1997; 65(1): 60-7.

Hypnosis Lowered Post-treatment Pain in Burn Injuries. Participants in the hypnosis group reported less post treatment pain than did patients in the control group.

Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry and Mental Health Sciences, Menninger Clinic, Topeka, Kansas, USA. peeblemj@menninger.edu Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2000 May;18(2):327-38, x. The use of hypnosis in emergency medicine. Peebles-Kleiger MJ.

Hypnosis Useful in Hospital Emergency Rooms – Hypnosis can be a useful adjunct in the emergency department setting. Its efficacy in various clinical applications has been replicated in controlled studies. Application to burns, pain, pediatric procedures, surgery, psychiatric presentations – coma, somatoform disorder, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress), and obstetric situations – hyperemesis, labor, and delivery are described.

If you are interested in using hypnosis for physical or emotional issues the following article will be of assistance in finding the right professional. How To Choose A Hypnosis Professional.