Holotropic Breathing

Alternative experimental therapeutic technique consisting of focused and accelerated breathing, use of evocative music, bodywork, art work and group process.

Técnica terapéutica experimental alternativa de respiración focalizada y acelerada, uso de música evocadora, trabajo corporal, trabajo artístico y proceso grupal.

Técnica terapêutica experimental que consiste em respiração focada e acelerada, uso de música evocativa, trabalho corporal, trabalho com arte e processo de grupo.

Applying intervention mapping approach to a program for early intervention in first-episode mental crisis of a psychotic type.

The holotropic mind perspective, an integral part of the framework of transpersonal psychology, has been considered a revolutionary approach to a certain spectrum of experiences in Non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC) which conventional approaches tend to treat indiscriminately as pathological processes, because PHM recognizes in these experiences their healing and evolutionary potential. This article describes the needs assessment, implementation, and evaluation of an experiential and educational program on the holotropic mind perspective and its praxis, Holotropic Breathwork® (HB), with students and professionals from the Group for Early Intervention in First-Episode Mental Crisis of a Psychotic Type of the University of Brasilia. The intervention aimed to establish change goals and objectives that would promote the adoption of the holotropic mind perspective's elements, such as a framework to broaden and strengthen mental health programs that assist people experiencing NOSC. The stages developed, inspired by the Intervention Mapping protocol, included a needs assessment; elaboration of change objective matrices; selection and description of methods based on theory and their applications; conception, planning, and implementation of the intervention; and results evaluation. Participants reported that the intervention allowed the expansion of their theoretical-conceptual and technical frameworks, giving them a less pathologizing understanding of and approach to NOSC and allowing them to perceive and manage such states, not as indiscriminately pathological expressions, but as phenomena inherent to the human condition that can be accepted and cared for without the exclusionary and exhaustive bias of mental disorders. Limitations and practical implications are discussed.

Applying intervention mapping approach to a program for early intervention in first-episode mental crisis of a psychotic type

Abstract The holotropic mind perspective, an integral part of the framework of transpersonal psychology, has been considered a revolutionary approach to a certain spectrum of experiences in Non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC) which conventional approaches tend to treat indiscriminately as pathological processes, because PHM recognizes in these experiences their healing and evolutionary potential. This article describes the needs assessment, implementation, and evaluation of an experiential and educational program on the holotropic mind perspective and its praxis, Holotropic Breathwork® (HB), with students and professionals from the Group for Early Intervention in First-Episode Mental Crisis of a Psychotic Type of the University of Brasilia. The intervention aimed to establish change goals and objectives that would promote the adoption of the holotropic mind perspective's elements, such as a framework to broaden and strengthen mental health programs that assist people experiencing NOSC. The stages developed, inspired by the Intervention Mapping protocol, included a needs assessment; elaboration of change objective matrices; selection and description of methods based on theory and their applications; conception, planning, and implementation of the intervention; and results evaluation. Participants reported that the intervention allowed the expansion of their theoretical-conceptual and technical frameworks, giving them a less pathologizing understanding of and approach to NOSC and allowing them to perceive and manage such states, not as indiscriminately pathological expressions, but as phenomena inherent to the human condition that can be accepted and cared for without the exclusionary and exhaustive bias of mental disorders. Limitations and practical implications are discussed.

Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether Holotropic Breathwork™ (HB; Grof Transpersonal Training, Mill Valley, CA) has any significance in the development of self-awareness. DESIGN: A quasi-experiment design and multiple case studies. A single case design was replicated. The statistical design was a related within-subject and repeated-measures design (pre-during-post design). SETTING/LOCATION: The study was conducted in Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: The participants (n = 20) were referred from Danish HB facilitators. Nine were novices and 11 had experience with HB. INTERVENTION: Four HB sessions. OUTCOME MEASURES: The novices (n = 9) underwent positive temperament changes and the experienced participants (n = 11) underwent positive changes in character. Overall, positive self-awareness changes were indicated; the participants' (n = 20) scores for persistence temperament, interpersonal problems, overly accommodating, intrusive/needy, and hostility were reduced. Changes in temperament were followed by changes in paranoid ideation scale, indicating a wary phase. RESULTS: Participants (n = 20) experienced reductions in their persistence temperament scores. The pretest mean (mean ± standard deviation, 114.15 ± 16.884) decreased at post-test (110.40 ± 16.481; pre-during-test p = 0.046, pre-post-test p = 0.048, pre-post-test effect size [d] = 0.2). Temperament changes were followed by an increase in paranoid ideation; the pre-test mean (47.45 ± 8.88) at post-test had increased to a higher but normal score (51.55 ± 7.864; pre-during-test p = 0.0215, pre-post-test p = 0.021, pre-post-test d = 0.5). Pre-test hostility mean (50.50 ± 10.395) decreased at post-test (47.20 ± 9.001; p = 0.0185; d = 0.3). The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems total pre-test mean (59.05 ± 17.139) was decreased at post-test (54.8 ± 12.408; p = 0.044; d = 0.2). Overly accommodating pre-test mean (56.00 ± 12.303) was decreased at post-test (51.55 ± 7.797; p = 0.0085; d = 0.4). The intrusive/needy pre-test score (57.25 ± 13.329) was decreased at post-test (52.85 ± 10.429; p = 0.005; d = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: The theoretical conclusion is that HB can induce very beneficial temperament changes, which can have positive effects on development of character, measured as an increase in self-awareness.

[Spirituality and ethics in psychosomatic medicine]. / Spiritualita a etika v psychosomatické medicíne - biopsychosociospirituální vztahy.

A patient has to cope with an illness on a physical, mental and spiritual level. There exists a difference between religiousness and spirituality even though the approach has a common foundation. Nonreligious spirituality relates to an inner experience, transcendent states of consciousness, meaningfulness, responsibility, sympathy, ethics, humanisation, faith. We encounter the spiritual point of view in humanistic psychotherapy, pastoral medicine, work of hospital chaplains, New Age, psychotherapies with religious and alternative aspects, transpersonal psychotherapy, psycho-spiritual crises, unusual states of consciousness, in meditation, Yoga, relaxation, kinesiology, ethicotherapy, reincarnation therapy, positive motivation, holotropic breathing, etc. There is description of different degrees of spiritual development, rational and irrational feeling of spirituality, Quantum Physics, spiritual intelligence, neuro-theology, physiological change, effects on improving adaptation during stress, drugs addiction, etc. Spirituality in relation with ethics is discussed in terms of socio-biology, evolution, emotions, aggressivity, genetics and social influence. The work analyses the effect of stressful situations on the deterioration of moral attitudes: during lack of time, obedience to authority and order. It is described how temperament and personality disorders can affect perception of spirituality, guilt feeling and conscience. Stressful situations, lack of time, relying only on the auxiliary objective methods leads to alienation of physician with a patient. Spirituality can partially improve the doctor-patient relationship, communication and sense of responsibility.

A proposal to evaluate mechanistic efficacy of hallucinogens in addiction treatment.

Current treatments for addiction are frequently ineffective. Hallucinogenic therapy has been indicated as helpful for a range of substance use disorders, yet this approach remains understudied and publicly unavailable. It is nonetheless a promising treatment, which has significant, long-term beneficial effects with single doses and a profile characterized by general safety, low toxicity, and non-addictiveness. However, pharmacological interventions, such as hallucinogens, should not be offered if the same effects (e.g. psychological insights/mystical experiences) and outcomes (e.g. decreased drug use) could be achieved absent pharmacological intervention. To date, there have been no clinical comparisons of drug-induced altered states with non-drug-induced states for addiction treatment. We propose and then outline a clinical trial to address this gap in knowledge. The proposed design would evaluate abstinence outcomes in a population of prescription opioid abusers after exposure to one of three conditions: a drug-induced altered state using psilocybin, a non-drug-induced altered state via hyperventilation (Holotropic Breathwork), and an active placebo with niacin. The outcomes of such a study would reveal important differences in therapeutic potential by discriminating hallucinogen-dependent effects from those psychological effects resulting from altered states.

Holotropic Breathwork: the potential role of a prolonged, voluntary hyperventilation procedure as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To pose the question of whether Holotropic Breathwork (HB), a prolonged, voluntary hyperventilation procedure, might be useful in treatment of common psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders. DESIGN: This is a hypothesis-posing paper pertaining to a potential novel treatment. SUMMARY: The neurophysiology and psychology of hyperventilation are reviewed, including findings demonstrating that hyperventilation leads to significant changes in central nervous system activity as measured by various technological means. Preliminary evidence suggesting efficacy for HB is reviewed. A tentative biopsychologic hypothesis is offered, suggesting a potential mechanism that may underlie putative therapeutic effects of HB. Specifically, when HB is used in the context of ongoing psychotherapy, hyperventilation may facilitate generalized extinction of avoidance behaviors, resulting in therapeutic progress. Individuals high in trait absorption and social desirability who have failed to respond adequately to psychotherapy might be those most likely to respond to HB. Recommendations for future research directions examining the therapeutic potential of HB are offered. CONCLUSIONS: Further research using more sophisticated methodologies than have been used to date will be necessary in order to confirm or refute the hypothesis that HB may be useful in treatment of psychiatric disorders.

[A combined treatment method for alcoholic patients using medikhronal, microwave resonance therapy and holotropic breathing]. / Kompleksnyi metod lecheniia bol'nykh alkogolizmom s ispol'zovaniem medikhronala, mikrovolnovoi rezonansnoi terapii i kholotropnogo dykhaniia.

At present the only drug that has an effect on biological mechanisms in alcoholism is medichronal. Exposure to microwave resonance therapy and psychocorrecting sessions was found to have an effective prophylactic action securing the results of therapeutic remission obtained during the main course of treatment. The proposed treatment option is practically free of side effects, is easy to use, which fact permits recommending it in the outpatient and hospital treatment of

Janet Quinn, RN, PhD. Therapeutic touch and a healing way. Interview by Bonnie Horrigan.

Janet Quinn, RN, PhD, is an associate professor and senior scholar at the Center for Human Caring at the School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, in Denver, Colo. In addition to teaching she conducts research, lectures, writes, and maintains a private practice in Boulder, Colo. She received her PhD in nursing research and theory development from New York University in 1982. Quinn is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, and is active in a diverse group of professional organizations including the American Nurses Association, American Holistic Nurses Association, Association for Holotropic Breathwork International, Association for Transpersonal Psychology, International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine, Hakomi Therapy Association, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences. During her career she has received many awards including the Healers Award from the Nurse Healers and Professional Associates (1995); the Edgar S Wilson, MD, Fellowship Award from the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine (1994); and the Holistic Nurse of the Year award from the American Holistic Nurses Association. Alternative Therapies interviewed Dr Quinn at her office in Boulder, Colo.

[The use of holotropic breathing in the treatment of chronic alcoholism]. / Primenenie kholotropnogo dykhaniia pri lechenii khronicheskogo alkogolizma.

The present paper focuses on the effectiveness of a new psychotherapeutic technique described under the denomination of "holotropic breath" to be employed in the treatment of patients with alcohol addiction. It is a modified classical technique under the above denomination adapted to the narcological needs. Case material is presented. A conclusion is drown to the effect that the above modified psychotherapeutic modality is an effective and useful alternative in a narcological setting.