Hypnobehavioral and hypnoenergetic therapy in the treatment of obese women: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial.

This study compared the effectiveness of hypnobehavioral therapy (HypBe) and HypBe enhanced by elements of energetic psychotherapy (hypnoenergetic therapy, HypEn) for obese women. Sixty clients were randomized to either HypBe or HypEn. Body weight, BMI, eating behavior, and body concept were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and at a follow-up. Mixed ANOVA models and effect sizes were used for statistics. Both treatments improved weight, BMI, eating behavior, and some aspects of body concept. Improvements in eating behavior and body concept were higher for those who also lost weight (responders). Weight and BMI reductions were not significantly different for the HypEn versus HypBe groups at follow-up.

Long-term success of GUT-directed group hypnosis for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Gut-directed hypnotherapy (GHT) in individual sessions is highly effective in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study aimed to assess the long-term effect of GHT in group sessions for refractory IBS. METHODS: A total of 164 patients with IBS (Rome-III-criteria) were screened, and 100 refractory to usual treatment were randomized 1:1 either to supportive talks with medical treatment (SMT) or to SMT with GHT (10 weekly sessions within 12 weeks). The primary end point was a clinically important improvement on several dimensions of daily life (assessed by IBS impact scale) after treatment and 12-month follow-up. The secondary end point was improvement in general quality of life (QOL; Medical Outcome Study Short-Form-36), psychological status (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale) and reduction of single IBS symptoms. Analysis was by intention to treat. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients received allocated intervention. After treatment, 28 (60.8%) out of 46 GHT patients and 18 (40.9%) out of 44 SMTs improved (absolute difference 20.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0-40.2%; P=0.046); over 15 months, 54.3% of GHT patients and 25.0% of controls improved (absolute difference 29.4%; 95% CI 10.1-48.6%; P=0.004). GHT with SMT improved physical and psychological well being significantly more than SMT alone (P<0.001). Gender, age, disease duration and IBS type did not have an influence on the long-term success of GHT. CONCLUSIONS: GHT improves IBS-related QOL, is superior to SMT alone, and shows a long-term effect even in refractory IBS.

Speech and school performance in children with benign partial epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BCECTS).

PURPOSE: To assess prospectively language and speech ability in children with benign partial epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BCECTS). To evaluate academic performance and social competencies both during the active disease and after remission. METHODS: Right-handed school children with typical BCECTS and a control group matched by age, sex, handedness and socioeconomic status were examined. The German version of WISC-R, the "Tübinger Luria Christensen Neuropsychological Test Set for children" (TUKI), the "Verbal Learning Memory Test" (VLMT), the "Heidelberger Speech Development Test-second edition" (HSET), and the "Salzburger reading and writing test" (SLRT) were applied. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a semi-structured interview were performed with the children's teachers to gain insight into school performance, behavioral and emotional problems. RESULTS: During the active phase, the patient group - despite normal global intellectual abilities - showed few, but significant impairments both in expressive speech and in receptive and expressive vocabulary. A significant deficit in the ability to recognize and express interpersonal relations was also found. Patients' teachers stated deficits concerning academic performance and complained about disturbing behavior. Parents reported significantly more psycho-pathological features in the subscales "Aggressive Behavior", "Attention Problems" and "Anxious/Depressed" of the CBCL. Results were independent of medication and spike localization. After complete recovery from BCECTS, these problems were not found any more. CONCLUSIONS: Both deficits of speech-related abilities (in both expressive and receptive vocabulary) and behavioral disturbances can be detected in children with typical BCECTS, but are no longer apparent after remission of the seizure disorder.