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HYPNOTIC ANALGESIA IN PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
205
a Latin-square design, so that each suggestion had an equal chance of
being administered in each position. A final induction was adminis-
tered after the fifth analgesia suggestion, after which the participants
were given posthypnotic suggestions for self-hypnosis and extended
analgesia efficacy. Each induction was preceded by a cue (“Take a
deep breath
. . .
hold it
. . .
hold it for a moment
. . .
and let it out. Notice
how comfortable that feels
. . .
”), so that the cue was linked to the induc-
tion and subsequent analgesia suggestions; participants were also
instructed to begin each home practice session with this cue to enhance
this association further. Multiple (six) inductions were given in each
session to maximize the participants’ opportunity to practice entering
a hypnotic state in order to facilitate their self-hypnosis skills (Lewis,
1992), and multiple (five) analgesia suggestions were given in each ses-
sion to provide the participant with a number of possible strategies for
pain management and to maximize the chances of benefit (Crasilneck,
1995). The five analgesia suggestions were for (a) decreased pain, (b)
deep relaxation, (c) hypnotic anesthesia, (d) decreased unpleasantness,
and (e) sensory substitution.
Initial induction.
The initial induction was based on that used for
Rapid Induction Analgesia (Barber, 1977). It began with suggestions
for increased attention on breathing and proceeded with suggestions for
increased comfort and relaxation coinciding with each of 10 numbers
(1 to 10). Below we present a slightly shortened version of the induc-
tion-protocol script, which includes all of the primary components of
the induction.
Okay . . . just settle back. . . . Go ahead and adjust yourself to the most
comfortable position you can. That’s fine. And remember, feel free to
make any adjustments, at any time, to help yourself be comfortable.
Now, I’d like you to notice that you can increase your comfort, right
now. . . . Take a deep, satisfying breath and hold it just for a moment.
That’s right . . . hold it for a moment. . . . That’s fine . . . now let it go. Let
yourself notice how good that feels. Now, in a moment, I’m going to
count from 1 to 10. As I count each number, take a deep, satisfying
breath and then let it all the way out. . . . We’ll begin. One. One level
down into deeper comfort. Deep, satisfying breath. That’s right. Two. Two
levels down. . . . Three. Three levels down. . . . That’s right . . . and maybe
you already notice yourself feeling more and more comfortable. . . . Four.
Four levels down . . . perhaps feeling specific areas of your body relaxing.
And I wonder if you can notice a deep, relaxing, and restful heaviness in
your forehead and feel it beginning to spread and flow . . . down, across
your eyes, down, across your face, into your mouth and jaw . . . down
through your neck . . . deep, restful, heavy. . . . Five. Halfway down . . .
and already beginning, perhaps, to really enjoy this opportunity to feel
relaxed and comfortable. . . . Six. Six levels down . . . perhaps noticing that
the sounds around you . . . all the sounds you can hear . . . are sounds that
can become more and more a part of your experience of comfort and