Physiological responses to psychological challenge under hypnosis in patients considered to have the hyperventilation syndrome: implications for diagnosis and therapy.
Thirty patients who were considered to have the hyperventilation syndrome on clinical grounds (history and observation) were referred for testing: 29 patients completed a forced hyperventilation provocation test, and 28 underwent hypnosis during which time a psychological challenge was introduced which was meaningful to each individual patient. In 19/27 of these patients the PetCO2 fell by an average of 18.2 mmHg and persisted spontaneously for more than three minutes. In 10 normal controls studied in a similar fashion there was an average fall of 5 mmHg. The difference in response between responders and controls/non-responders was highly significant (P less than 0.001). A review of the literature is presented for comparison. It is considered that a psychological challenge under hypnosis may have important implications for diagnosis and therapy in some patients considered to have the hyperventilation syndrome.
Freeman
L J
LJ
Conway
A
A
Nixon
P G
PG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006990:Hypnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010313:Partial Pressure
D002245:Carbon Dioxide