Medical News - 10 January 2015
In the US, over a quarter of the population report not getting enough sleep, and almost 10% endure chronic insomnia. But new research from two universities in Switzerland suggests sleep hypnosis has a surprising positive impact on quality of sleep.
The researchers, led by biopsychologist Björn Rasch from the Psychological Institute of the University of Zurich, say their findings "open up new, promising opportunities for improving the quality of sleep without drugs." They publish their research in the journal Sleep.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that although sleep is often considered a "passive" activity, ample sleep is an essential part of staying healthy and preventing disease. Insufficient sleep is linked with several chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression.
Additionally, the researchers of this latest study say that slow-wave sleep (SWS) has a positive impact on memory and immune system function, and during this period of sleep, the body secretes growth hormones, promotes cell repair and improves brain plasticity. However, the team also notes that SWS declines significantly across a person's lifespan.
The researchers found that slow-wave sleep increased by 80% in women who responded to hypnotic suggestions. Hypnosis is a technique that can impact processes that are difficult to voluntarily control - for example, when you are exhausted and want to sleep but are unable to do so.
Although patients with sleep conditions have been successfully treated with hypnotherapy in the past, the researchers say that until now, objectively measurable changes in sleep have not been proven.
In order to further investigate, the team conducted a study with 70 healthy young women who came to the sleep laboratory for a 90-minute nap during midday. During their nap, the researchers objectively measured their sleep by recording electrical brain activity with an electroencephalogram (EEG). The team says slow-wave sleep is characterized by an even and slow oscillation in electrical activity in the brain. Hypnosis yielded 80% more slow-wave sleep for those who respond to it
Just before the subjects fell asleep, the researchers had them listen to either a special slow-wave hypnosis tape developed by hypnotherapist and specialist Prof. Angelike Schlarb, or a neutral spoken control text.
Fast facts about National Sleep Foundation recommendations: Go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time in the morning. Only use your bed for sleeping and remove all TVs and computers from the bedroom. Avoid eating large meals before bed.
Additionally, at the start of the study, the team divided the subjects into two groups: "highly suggestible" or "low suggestible." This was done using a standard procedure known as the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. According to the team, about half of the population is moderately suggestible.
Results showed that the women in the highly suggestible group experienced over 80% more SWS after listening to the hypnosis tape, and their time spent awake was reduced by one third, compared with highly suggestible women who listened to the neutral text. Compared with the highly suggestible group, women from the low suggestible group did not benefit as much from hypnosis, the researchers say.
After they conducted additional control experiments, the researchers concluded that the beneficial effects of hypnosis on SWS were attributed to the hypnotic suggestion to "sleep deeper," stating that these effects were not simply expectancy effects.
'Unlike drugs, hypnosis has no side effects'
The research was only conducted in women, and the investigators note that females tend to have higher values for hypnotic susceptibility, compared with males. However, the team believes they would encounter similar positive effects of hypnosis on sleep for men who are highly suggestible.
Maren Cordi, a psychologist involved with the study, says "the results may be of major importance for patients with sleep problems and for older adults. In contrast to many sleep-inducing drugs, hypnosis has no adverse side effects."
When asked about any future research the team plans to carry out along these lines, Prof. Rasch told Medical News Today: "First, we are currently conducting a study on the effects of hypnosis in elderly women. The preliminary results are very promising, as they show basically the same positive effects of hypnosis on deep sleep in high-suggestible older adults. In addition, we are planning to conduct similar studies in young and older men, to further strengthen and generalize our findings. Finally, we are planning to test whether hypnosis also has beneficial effects on sleep in patients with sleep disturbances."
The researchers conclude their study by noting that essentially everyone who responds to hypnosis could achieve better sleep with hypnosis.
Hypnosis has a very beneficial effect on sleep problems helping study participants sleep better. Hypnosis has been well reported in benefitting clients with sleep problems. The Harley Street Hypnotherapy Clinic has a number of hypnotherapists that cover sleep problems and insomnia and would be more than happy to end your sleep deprivation. Insomnia or lack of sleep causes many problems so it is best to get your sleep problems soprted out quickly with hypnosis which unlike drugs has no side effects. call our sleep specialist hypnotherapists at the London Hypnotherapy Clinic today and finally say goodbye to sleep problems at the Harley Street Hypnotherapy Clinic.
