Tourette’s syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterized by uncontrolled movements, called "tics," and vocalizations, which may involve socially unacceptable remarks or sounds. Tourette’s syndrome typically manifests in childhood due to genetic and environmental factors that have not yet been completely defined. Hypnosis is an effective treatment that can decrease the frequency of symptoms and, in some cases, completely inhibit them.
Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment
Psychiatrists favor pharmaceutical treatment over non-pharmacological therapies for Tourette’s syndrome despite potential toxic drug side effects, according to an article in the April 2007 issue of the “American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis.” The authors stated that current pharmacological treatments are largely ineffective and offer only a modest reduction in symptoms at best. The study proposes using self-regulatory interventions, such as hypnosis, which the authors claim can ameliorate or entirely eliminate the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome.
Self-Hypnosis in Children
A study published in the July 2010 issue of the “Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics” investigated the practicality of using self-hypnosis in children for tics associated with Tourette’s syndrome. The researchers recruited 33 children for therapy using a videotape series of a child undergoing self-hypnosis for control of Tourette’s symptoms. The study found 46 percent of the children obtained control over tics after only two sessions; 96 percent showed marked improvement after three sessions. The authors concluded that children aided by the use of videotapes shorten the time required to learn self-hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy
A case study, profiled in a 1989 issue of “American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis,” documented a case of behavioral modification of Tourette’s syndrome in a teenage boy using hypnotherapy. The boy’s physician recommended using a multi-prong approach to treat symptoms of the disease: progressive relaxation, temperature feedback and imagery. The study reported that the patient’s tics and vocalizations were minimal to nonexistent after nine sessions. During a follow-up examination six months later, the symptoms continued to be under control.
Chronic Tics
A conference paper presented to the 110th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association addressed the use of hypnotherapy for the treatment of chronic tics in Tourette’s syndrome. The article described a study involving nine children, who were treated weekly with a hypnotherapy protocol for one to five months with follow-ups ranging from four to 18 months after treatment. The authors reported that hypnotherapy was effective for tic reduction in Tourette’s syndrome.
References
- 110th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association: Hypnotherapy for Chronic Tics and Tourette Syndrome in Children; B. Pomerantz, et al.; August 2004
- “American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis”; A 4-Step Hypnotherapy Model for Gilles de la Tourette's Syndrome; F. Culbertson; April 1989
- “Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics”; Nonpharmacological Treatment of Tics in Tourette Syndrome Adding Videotape Training to Self-Hypnosis; J. Lazarus, et al.; July 2010
- “American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis”; Elucidating Tourette's Syndrome: Perspectives from Hypnosis, Attention and Self-Regulation; A. Raz, et al.; April 2007
Member Comments