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Hypnosis help for arthritics
Welsh Daily Post - October 18th 2005
By David Greenwood
North Wales researchers hope hypnosis techniques used to help smoker quit
may improve life for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Experts at Bangor University's
School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences want people plagues with the
crippling condition to sign up for trials.
But Bryn Bennett, 34, the doctorate student involved in the research, yester
insisted he was no Paul McKenna. And he stressed anybody taking part would
be fully aware
of what was going on.
"There will be none of that 'look into my eyes business which you see
in the Little Britain series," he said."We just want to see how
effective hypnosis can be in managing what is a very painful condition.
"Hypnosis or hypnotherapy in health care is usually associated with
habit related applications such as getting people to stop smoking. But there
is growing evidence and interest in its application for the management of
certain conditions.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the immune system and I am interested
in using psychotherapy techniques such as hypnotherapy to boost the system."
The Bangor student said imaging, when sufferers focus on positive images,
is another crucial part of the experiment.
"Sufferers themselves will identify the areas of their lives most affected
by their condition or those which are important to them, whether it be an
inability to perform particular tasks or follow a specific hobby or interest.
"These will then be the focus for a course of individual hypnotherapy
and imaging sessions. This is different from the normal approach, where
a clinician will identify the areas of difficulty or inability that affect
a sufferers quality of life.
Consultant Rheumatologist and Senior Clinical Lecturer Dr. Jeremy Jones
said: "There is a growing medical interest in the use of psychological
interventions for musculoskeletal conditions.
"Bryan's research could help us lean more about the value of such treatments
in managing the pain, fatigue and stiffness experienced with rheumatoid
arthritis,
leading to an increase in the quality of life."
Recruits must be stabilised on their current treatment for at least 3 months.
A university spokeswoman said. "They can take part either by visiting
the university of through visits to their own homes.
"The trial involves six one-hour sessions over six weeks and then a
one hour sessions every two months for six months.
Anyone interested in participating should contact Bryan Bennett on 01248
388147 or e-mail bryan.bennett@bangor.ac.uk
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