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HYPNOSIS,
AUTOGENIC
RELAXATION,
AND
QUIET
REST
15
outcomes do not differ from those associatedwith quiet rest. It is possi-
ble that currentday advances in technology, particularly functional
magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI),
positron emission tomography
(PET),
and singlephoton emission computerized tomography
(SPECT),
may be effective in demonstrating that hypnosis, meditation, and vari-
ous
relaxation procedures have effects that extend beyond those
observed for quiet rest.
The results of this investigation are consistent forboth the supine and
seated positions. There have not been compelling theoretical rationales
advanced for the efficacy of a particular body position, nor has there
been systematicresearch on this subject.Thepresent findingsare impor-
tant because test protocols sometimes dictate that a supine or seated
position be employed, and the absenceof effects due
to
body position is
fortuitous in this regard. It is not uncommon for institutional review
boards charged with the evaluation of research proposals involving
human participants to employ various restrictions and safeguards in
connectionwith research involving the use
of
hypnosis. The findings of
this study demonstrate that, at least in itsmost standardized and routine
applications (e.g., the Stanford Scales),administration of hypnosis pro-
cedures has outcomes that are similar to those observed following a
nonhypnotic procedure involvingquiet rest.
The generalizability of these findings should be restricted to individ-
uals scoring in the normal range on the affective measures employed in
this study, and it
is
possible that these effects cannot be generalized to
anxious individuals. Indeed, there
is
evidence that some anxious indi-
viduals actually experience increased anxiety and panic attacks during
and following exposure to various relaxation procedures (Borkovec,
1985).It is particularly important that our findings of reduced anxiety
followingquiet rest be evaluated with individuals scoringhigh on state
anxiety.Our findingsindicate that, amonghealthy individuals, adminis-
tration of a routinehypnosis inductionwith no other specialsuggestions
for alteration in experience, mood, or physiology, results in a reduction
of
state anxiety and an improvement of mood, which
is
commensurate
with effects achievedby autogenic training and quiet rest. These effects
occur in both the supine and seated positions.
REFERENCES
Bahrke,
M. S.,
&
Morgan, W.
P.
(1978).Anxiety reduction following exerciseand medita-
tion.
Cognitive
Therapy
and
Research,
2,323-333.
Barber, T.
X.
(1965a). Measuring "hypnotic-like" suggestibility with and without "hyp-
notic induction," psychometric properties, norms, and variables influencing response
to the Barber SuggestibilityScale (BSS).
Psychological
Reports,
16,809-844.
Barber,
T. X.
(1965b).Physiological effects
of
"hypnotic suggestions":
A
critical review
of
recent research (1960-64).
Psychologicul Bulletin,
63,201-222.
Benson,
H.
(1975).
The
reluxation
response.
New York William
Morrow.
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