Hypnotherapy in the treatment of chronic combat-related PTSD patients suffering from insomnia: a randomized, zolpidem-controlled clinical trial.
This study evaluated the benefits of add-on hypnotherapy in patients with chronic PTSD. Thirty-two PTSD patients treated by SSRI antidepressants and supportive psychotherapy were randomized to 2 groups: 15 patients in the first group received Zolpidem 10 mg nightly for 14 nights, and 17 patients in the hypnotherapy group were treated by symptom-oriented hypnotherapy, twice-a-week 1.5-hour sessions for 2 weeks. All patients completed the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C, Beck Depression Inventory, Impact of Event Scale, and Visual Subjective Sleep Quality Questionnaire before and after treatment. There was a significant main effect of the hypnotherapy treatment with PTSD symptoms as measured by the Posttraumatic Disorder Scale. This effect was preserved at follow-up 1 month later. Additional benefits for the hypnotherapy group were decreases in intrusion and avoidance reactions and improvement in all sleep variables assessed.
Abramowitz
Eitan G
EG
Israel Defense Forces, Mental Health Department, Israel. eitanmd@zahav.net.il
Barak
Yoram
Y
Ben-Avi
Irit
I
Knobler
Haim Y
HY
D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004325:Dreams / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020184:Night Terrors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000077334:Zolpidem