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Clinical hypnosis: A multidisciplinary approach
Book Reviews
523
Clinical Hypnosis: A Multidisciplinary Approach. WILLIAM WESTER II and ALEXANDER H. SMITH Jr. Lippincoff, Philadelphia, 1984. 660pp. Price: $35. THIS BOOK is a praiseworthy attempt to bring together in one volume the current understanding of hypnotberapy as experienced by a very wide range of therapists: psychiatrists, psychologists, dentists, surgeons, educationalists, anaesthetists, paediatricians, obstetricians, sports instructors and counsellors. There are 29 contributors bringing to it a wealth of experience of the use of hypnosis making this a very useful and interesting contribution to the literature. Unfortunately the very wide range of disciplines represented by the contributors combined with a wide variety of writing styles, does tend to make the book somewhat indigestible if it is tackled as a whole, and I feel that its most useful contribution will be as a source of information and reference for those seeking to learn from the experience of hypnotherapists working in their own particular field. The strategy of dividing the volume into five units, each making a sort of mini book, with its own title, is a very useful one as it makes it m u c h easier for the reader to select the areas applicable to his or her own speciality. Unit one, 'Orientation to the Practice of Hypnosis' with its excellent survey of the historical development of hypnosis in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, patient preparation, and techniques of induction and deepening is of wide general interest though I confess I found Profesor Wall's chapter on Hypnotic P h e n o m e n a somewhat heavy going. However, his paragraphs on hemispheric specialization presenting the evidence that hypnosis results in a shift from left to right hemisphere activity is interesting and informative. Unit two, 'Theoretical and Experimental Foundations for the Practitioner' is perhaps of less general interest, and for someone untrained in the jargon of psychology not always easy to understand. Unit three, 'Hypnotic Applications in Medicine, Psychology and Dentistry' was for me the most easily read, informative and interesting part of the book and there are many useful concepts here for practitioners of hypnotherapy. What does come across in this part of the book is the widely subjective nature of hypnotherapy with each practitioner apparently achieving clinical success with his or her own personally tailored brand of therapy. The question of a 'best-buy' technique remains unanswered and perhaps it depends more on the personality of the therapist than on the condition being treated. Unit four, 'The Use of Hypnosis with Psychopathalogical States' continues the clinical application theme, though it ventures into areas where most of us would be u n h a p p y to follow, such as hypnotic treatment of the severely disturbed and depressed patient. Dr. Barnett's chapter on the treatment of anxiety and stress is helpful in a practical way and Dr. T h a k u r ' s description of his treatment of anorexia is thought provoking though it lacks convincing evidence of the positive contribution of hypnotherapy. The fifth and final unit of the book is a fascinating collection of the applications of hypnosis in a wide variety of fields ranging from the scientific and pragmatic approach of Martin Orne's Forensic Hypnosis to the esoteric therapy of Peter Carich's Hypnosis and Religion. It is disappointing that the chapter devoted to Hypnosis and Sport was unable to produce more convincing evidence of the success of the techniques employed (a criticism that m a y also be levelled at m a n y of the other contributors of this book). Dr. Klauber's contribution on Hypnosis in Education and School Psychology is well argued and honest in its assessment of the contribution and limitations of hypnosis in his speciality. In summary, 'Clinical Hypnosis' tackles the very difficult task of co-ordinating the present experience of the still nebulous science of hypnosis. On the whole it has succeeded in this task and the result is a useful addition to the library of literature on hypnosis. HUOH MURRAY Student Health Service, University of Edinburgh
523
Clinical Hypnosis: A Multidisciplinary Approach. WILLIAM WESTER II and ALEXANDER H. SMITH Jr. Lippincoff, Philadelphia, 1984. 660pp. Price: $35. THIS BOOK is a praiseworthy attempt to bring together in one volume the current understanding of hypnotberapy as experienced by a very wide range of therapists: psychiatrists, psychologists, dentists, surgeons, educationalists, anaesthetists, paediatricians, obstetricians, sports instructors and counsellors. There are 29 contributors bringing to it a wealth of experience of the use of hypnosis making this a very useful and interesting contribution to the literature. Unfortunately the very wide range of disciplines represented by the contributors combined with a wide variety of writing styles, does tend to make the book somewhat indigestible if it is tackled as a whole, and I feel that its most useful contribution will be as a source of information and reference for those seeking to learn from the experience of hypnotherapists working in their own particular field. The strategy of dividing the volume into five units, each making a sort of mini book, with its own title, is a very useful one as it makes it m u c h easier for the reader to select the areas applicable to his or her own speciality. Unit one, 'Orientation to the Practice of Hypnosis' with its excellent survey of the historical development of hypnosis in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, patient preparation, and techniques of induction and deepening is of wide general interest though I confess I found Profesor Wall's chapter on Hypnotic P h e n o m e n a somewhat heavy going. However, his paragraphs on hemispheric specialization presenting the evidence that hypnosis results in a shift from left to right hemisphere activity is interesting and informative. Unit two, 'Theoretical and Experimental Foundations for the Practitioner' is perhaps of less general interest, and for someone untrained in the jargon of psychology not always easy to understand. Unit three, 'Hypnotic Applications in Medicine, Psychology and Dentistry' was for me the most easily read, informative and interesting part of the book and there are many useful concepts here for practitioners of hypnotherapy. What does come across in this part of the book is the widely subjective nature of hypnotherapy with each practitioner apparently achieving clinical success with his or her own personally tailored brand of therapy. The question of a 'best-buy' technique remains unanswered and perhaps it depends more on the personality of the therapist than on the condition being treated. Unit four, 'The Use of Hypnosis with Psychopathalogical States' continues the clinical application theme, though it ventures into areas where most of us would be u n h a p p y to follow, such as hypnotic treatment of the severely disturbed and depressed patient. Dr. Barnett's chapter on the treatment of anxiety and stress is helpful in a practical way and Dr. T h a k u r ' s description of his treatment of anorexia is thought provoking though it lacks convincing evidence of the positive contribution of hypnotherapy. The fifth and final unit of the book is a fascinating collection of the applications of hypnosis in a wide variety of fields ranging from the scientific and pragmatic approach of Martin Orne's Forensic Hypnosis to the esoteric therapy of Peter Carich's Hypnosis and Religion. It is disappointing that the chapter devoted to Hypnosis and Sport was unable to produce more convincing evidence of the success of the techniques employed (a criticism that m a y also be levelled at m a n y of the other contributors of this book). Dr. Klauber's contribution on Hypnosis in Education and School Psychology is well argued and honest in its assessment of the contribution and limitations of hypnosis in his speciality. In summary, 'Clinical Hypnosis' tackles the very difficult task of co-ordinating the present experience of the still nebulous science of hypnosis. On the whole it has succeeded in this task and the result is a useful addition to the library of literature on hypnosis. HUOH MURRAY Student Health Service, University of Edinburgh