title: The use of relaxation, hypnosis, and imagery in sport psychiatry.
abstract: Hypnosis is a procedure during which a mental health professional suggests that a patient experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. The purpose of this article is to briefly describe the use of various methods of relaxation, hypnosis, and imagery techniques available to enhance athletic performance. The characteristics that these techniques have in common include relaxation, suggestibility, concentration, imaginative ability, reality testing, brain function, autonomic control, and placebo effect. Case studies are provided for illustration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychology, Cooper University Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. newmark-thomas@cooperhealth.edu
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Newmark
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Bogacki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods*