Hypnosis In Treating Pots And Ncs????

[AJVDK]

I found this tonight just looking for POTS and NCS information. This study is done, but I found the info kind of odd. Do you think thay thought that is we where Hypnotised we would get better? Plus if they are only looking for healty POTS, and NSC people, and must be off you meds how do they really know if it works. I am all about them trying to improve the life for us with POTS and NSC. But would Hyprosis work? Like I said I just came acoss this tonight and thought I would share the info!

Talk to you later!

The web site was:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00061009?order=1

Here was is said:

Hypnosis in Autonomic Function

This study has been completed.

Sponsored by: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00061009

Purpose

This study will investigate the relationship between susceptibility to hypnosis and regulation of the autonomic nervous system (nerves that control involuntary body functions, such as heart rate and sweating).

Hypnosis is a state of mind in which the individual is highly focused, relatively unaware of his or her surroundings, and possibly more able to accept and use therapeutic suggestions. People vary in their responsiveness, or susceptibility, while in hypnosis. People with certain conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic pain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have altered hypnotic susceptibility. Patients with chronic orthostatic intolerance (COI) often have symptoms similar to those of individuals with CFS, chronic pain, PTSD, and GAD, and this study will examine how patients with COI respond to hypnosis as compared with healthy normal volunteers. COI is a group of disorders characterized by intolerance to prolonged standing. Among them are neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS), in which patients have recurrent episodes of sudden loss of consciousness, and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), in which patients have a sustained increase in heart rate after standing.

In addition to the comparison of COI and normal volunteer responses to hypnosis, the study will examine how hypnotic susceptibility is related to the ability to control autonomic functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and sweating. The autonomic nervous system is activated when the body is stressed, not only from physical stimuli such as cold temperature, but also from mental stimuli, such as seeing a rattlesnake up close. Hypnosis may, therefore, be a useful tool to understand how the mind controls the autonomic nervous system.

Healthy normal volunteers and patients with NCS or POTS who are 18 years of age or older may be eligible for this two-part study. In part 1, participants complete a questionnaire and are then tested for hypnotic susceptibility. For this test, a professionally trained physician guides the subject through a procedure to achieve a hypnotic state. The subject is asked to perform several simple tasks and is then guided back to a normal state of being. In part 2, the subject undergoes hypnosis again, during which the physician offers various suggestions while monitoring activity of the subject's autonomic nervous system. The subject is connected to various sensors that continuously monitor blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow, sweat response, skin electrical conduction, and brain wave activity. An intravenous catheter is inserted into an arm vein to collect blood samples. At the end, the subject is guided back to a normal state of being.

The hypnosis session in part 1 is videotaped in order to: 1) permit review by a scientist who is unaware of the subject's condition and whose judgment will not, therefore, be biased; and 2) have a record of the experimental data. Only qualified investigators will view the videotape.

Condition

Vasovagal Syncope

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Hypnosis

MedlinePlus related topics: Fainting

Study Type: Observational

Study Design: Natural History

Official Title: Relationship of Autonomic Function to Hypnotic Susceptibility

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Expected Total Enrollment: 93

Study start: May 13, 2003; Study completion: January 17, 2006

This protocol describes a study to investigate the relationship between susceptibility to hypnosis and regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Several studies have demonstrated that individuals with particular conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), have altered hypnotic susceptibility. Patients with chronic orthostatic intolerance (COI), a general category of autonomic dysfunction that includes neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), often present with symptoms that are similar to those seen in CFS, PTSD, chronic pain, or GAD. These observations led to the hypothesis tested in this protocol that patients with COI may also have altered hypnotic susceptibility. We also hypothesize that increased hypnotic susceptibility will correlate with increased ability to modulate autonomic function appropriately in response to suggestions during hypnosis.

The study population includes normal volunteers and patients with NCS or POTS. The design is blinded and correlative. Primary outcome measures are hypnotic susceptibility as measured by standardized scales; self-report inventory scores of psychobehavioral variables; physiologic parameters such as hemodynamics, sweating, skin electrical conductance, body temperature, respiratory rate, and bispectral analysis; and plasma catechol levels. The results of this study may lead to novel therapeutic strategies using hypnosis for COI.

Eligibility

Genders Eligible for Study: Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects are patients with COI (POTS or NCS) identified in existing diagnostic protocols of the Clinical Neurocardiology Section (CNCS) and age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Patients with COI must be evaluated first through these diagnostic protocols prior to being offered enrollment in this protocol. Participation in this protocol is offered to subjects independently of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or creed.

The studies in this protocol can be performed on an outpatient basis. Inpatients may also participate as long as participation does not interfere with the protocol(s) under which they have been admitted.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects are excluded based on: age less than 18 years, unwillingness to be hypnotized or videotaped; religious or other beliefs that would prevent engagement in hypnosis; psychosis or psychotic depression; non-fluency in spoken English; and inability to participate adequately in the tasks of the hypnotic susceptibility scale. In addition, patients are excluded if they are being treated with, and cannot discontinue, a drug likely to interfere with the scientific results. An example would be treatment with a beta-adrenoceptor blocker. Patients unable to discontinue nicotine or alcohol temporarily are excluded. Patients are not to discontinue any medications before the patient or the patient's doctor discusses this with the Principal Investigator, or the Research Nurse. If it is decided that discontinuing medications would be unsafe, then the patient is excluded from the study. Finally, subjects are excluded if there are technical limitations in placing an i.v. or monitoring devices.

[Jacquie802]

Hmmm, that was quite interesting. I personally don't think hypnosis could help us, but who knows..?!

[AJVDK]

I know, When I read this I was like what???? Thats why I posted it!

[worththewords]

Interesting read. Yet I'm still skeptical and not that desperate yet!

Thanks for sharing.

[Lukkychrm42]

Well, considering it's not psychosomatic, I would seriously doubt that hypnosis could cure POTS.

[goldicedance]

I don't think they are investigating whether hypnosis can cure POTS. I think they are trying to determine the relationship between the mind and the autonomic nervous system.

As Dr. Low once told me, don't let anyone tell you POTS is in your mind. While it may, in fact, be in your mind (i.e., the center of the autonomic nervous system), it is not in your mind as in psychosomatic.

[yogini]

Yes, from the description, it seems like they are trying to determine whether people with POTS are more or less likely to be able to be hypnotized than regular people. Interesting study.

[lthomas521]

From what I understand, "hypnosis" is nothing more than relaxation and social compliance. Some people are less willing than others to comply with another person's nonsense, which is why some people "can't be hypnotized." I don't suffer fools gladly, so I'm probably one of the ones who "can't be hypnotized," although no one has ever bothered to test me on it, because I'm too thrifty to pay anyone to try.

If the study were about the effects of relaxation techniques on autonomic control in people with dysautonomia, I'd be less inclined to think that the whole thing was bogus. It might be a way to find a quick way to diagnose different kinds of dysautonomia. (Dang! Her heart's still racing! Must be something wrong with her!)

It's kind of insulting to suggest that POTS or NCS can be hypnotized away. I've already been through the testing where they put your hand in ice water and make you blow into something etc. while taking your blood pressure. Maybe the exercise physiologist should just have dangled a pocketwatch in front of my eyes and told me that I was getting verrry sleeeepy. Maybe I could have been cured there and then! Hallelujiah!

[MomtoGiuliana]

Seems like an attempt to understand the connection between the mind and the autonomic system as others have said.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that hypnotism would cure any disease. I think it is used successfully for cases of addiction, and similar ailments. I did see an expert in hypnotism for awhile who did not attempt hypnotism in my case, but taught me some relaxation techniques that have been valuable to me in managing POTS symptoms.

Katherine

[Zoticuss]

It seems like there's some misconception on what hypnosis provides. 

Could hypnosis help POTS it's possible in the way that it helps release trauma and other Ailments from physical to emotional/ mental.

Being Hypnotized it not about being fooled into something but rather allowing your conscious and subconscious mind to communicate. 

Our brains have the ability to hurt and heal ourselves, the issue is our conscious is usually getting in the way.

Our brains are powerful and even providing suggestion on your mind working to counter act the affects of POTS is plausible... eliminating it might be another story. If you decide something will not work  don't expect it to.

[Claudia Goodell]

 

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of susceptibility of those with POTS, to learn how hypnotizable they might be. I have some experience in this realm. I was chronically ill for 30+ years, diagnosed with ME/CFS/FMS/ and chronic lyme, migraines, hashimoto's thyroiditis and had POTS and OI. I was severely disabled for many years and was a national advocate for ME/CFS.  I tried so many treatments, supplements, therapies, practices, diets, etc. Some helped and some made me worse.    Then in 2018 I fully recovered after completing the ANS REWIRE program.  Today I am a Nationally Certified Transpersonal Hypnotherapist with my own practice. Hypnotherapy is extremely powerful to increase relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, reduce symptoms of IBS, and manage chronic pain. In studies it has been shown to reduce blood pressure, and has been shown to effect nervous system functioning eg, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17135064/#:~:text=Results show that hypnosis is,personality factors%2C and therapeutic results.  I hope this is helpful. I am unable to locate the published results of this study. If anyone has a link please share it. Thank you!