MAY 1999, VOLUME 27, NUMBER 1, Abstract 6
An Hypnotic Intervention for Migraine Control
Gordon J. Emmerson, Victoria University of Technology, Melbourne
Gitta Trexler, Psychologist
Migraine is a complex disorder, with symptoms variously responding to both psychological and physiological interventions. This study, using (a) group hypnosis, (b) hypnotic relaxation, and (c) vascular manipulation, tested the efficacy of hypnosis in the reduction of migraine duration, frequency, severity, and requirement for medication. A time-series design was used to determine a pre-treatment trend and a post-treatment effect. During a pre-treatment period of 12 weeks, participants recorded details of their migraines and medication. This was followed by 12 weeks of treatment, beginning with a group hypnosis session and the dissemination of pre-recorded hypnosis tapes for used over the treatment period. Significant improvement differences were found for all variables. Reduction of medication by almost 50% is viewed as a consequence of a reduction in the other variables since no medication reduction was encouraged. Pre-treatment medication was standardized to a mean of 100 corresponding to a post-treatment mean of 51. Reductions in duration, frequency, and severity were especially impressive considering the concurrent reduction in medication. Migraine duration was reduced from a group mean of 54 migraine hours per fortnight to 26 hours. Migraine frequency was reduced from a mean of 3.8 attacks per fortnight to 2.8 attacks. The migraine severity rating was reduced from a group mean of 2.0 to 1.4.