A new bioinformatics paradigm for the theory, research, and practice of therapeutic hypnosis.
In a 2008 pilot study we used DNA microarrays to explore the historical ideo-plastic faculty of therapeutic hypnosis. We documented how to measure changes in activity or experience-dependent gene expression over relatively brief time periods (1 hour and 24 hours) following a single intervention of therapeutic hypnosis (about 1 hour). In the present paper we utilize bioinformatic software to explore the possible meaning and significance of this ideo-plastic faculty of therapeutic hypnosis. Indications suggest that the ideo-plastic process of therapeutic hypnosis may be associated with (1) the heightening of a molecular-genomic signature for the up-regulation (heightened activity) of genes characteristic of stem cell growth, (2) a reduction in cellular oxidative stress, and (3) a reduction in chronic inflammation. We identify these three empirical associations as an initial beta version of the molecular-genomic signature of the ideo-plastic process of therapeutic hypnosis, which can serve as a theoretical and practical guide for clinical excellence by beginners as well as senior professionals. We propose this molecular-genomic level of discourse as a supplement to the traditional cognitive-behavioral description of therapeutic suggestion, hypnosis, and psychotherapy that is consistent with "translational research" currently funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Atkinson
David
D
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA.
Iannotti
Salvatore
S
Cozzolino
Mauro
M
Castiglione
Stefano
S
Cicatelli
Angela
A
Vyas
Bhaskar
B
Mortimer
Jane
J
Hill
Richard
R
Chovanec
Erika
E
Chiamberlando
Alessia
A
Cuadros
Jorge
J
Virot
Claude
C
Kerouac
Michel
M
Kallfass
Thierry
T
Krippner
Stanley
S
Frederick
Claire
C
Gregory
Bruce
B
Shaffran
Michael
M
Bullock
Margaret
M
Soleimany
Ella
E
Rossi
April Cybelle
AC
Rossi
Kathryn
K
Rossi
Ernest
E
D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D019295:Computational Biology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D036281:Genetic Research; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012984:Software; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics