Hypnotizability Scales

Hypnotizability Scales

Hypnotizability scales have been developed for clinical use (Hypnotic Induction Profile [Spiegel and Spiegel, 1978]; Stan-ford Hypnotic Clinical Scale [Hilgard and Hilgard, 1975]). These scales are designed for comfortable use even with patients who have severe psychiatric disturbances (Spiegel and Spiegel, 1978; Spiegel et al., 1982, 1988). They are well accepted by patients and help to bypass anxiety by shifting the focus of the interaction from one in which the therapist tries to make the patient have a hypnotic experience to one in which the therapist assesses the patient’s response to a set of instructions, like any other medical or psychological test (Spiegel and Spiegel, 1978). The therapist focuses on evaluating the patient’s ability to enter the state rather than on getting the person into the state. They all involve a struc-tured hypnotic induction and an assessment of the subject’s re-sponse to a variety of instructions, such as alterations in the sense of control over body movements, physical sensations, orientation to time and space, and perception. Furthermore, such a standard-ized testing induction permits an important deduction regarding the hypnotic capacity of the subject. The restricted range of in-put from the therapist maximizes the information provided by variations in subjects’ responses. After the results of the testing are discussed with the subject, both can proceed knowledgeably, choosing to use hypnosis or other techniques in the service of an agreed on treatment goal.

The use of this kind of objective measurement has several clinical advantages and therapeutic implications (Table 72.3).

Hypnosis Induction Profile

The Hypnotic Induction Profile (Figure 72.1) is a useful clini-cal screening test for hypnotic capacity. It consists of a number

of the simple instructions that allow the measurement of pa-tients’ natural ability to tap into and use their hypnotic capac-ity. It begins with a simple and quick induction, counting from 1 to 3, accompanied by the eye roll. This involves instructed upward gaze and lowering of the eyelids (Figure 72.2). The dis-sociation between upward gaze and lowering of the eyelid can be scored (Figure 72.3), providing the therapist with an initial prediction of the subject’s hypnotic capacity. The eye roll is then followed by a series of instructions briefly to influence the subject’s behavior during and shortly after the test (posthyp-notic suggestions). The Hypnotic Induction Profile allows the therapist to rate the subject on five items (Table 72.4) assess-ing cognitive and behavioral aspects of the single continuous but brief hypnotic experience elicited during the test. These

are: 1) ability to experience a sense of dissociation of the left hand from the rest of the body; 2) hand levitation, or floating of the hand back up in the air after being pulled down; 3) sense of involuntariness or unconscious compliance while elevating the hand; 4) response to the cutoff signal ending the hypnotic experience; and 5) sensory alteration in the hand or elsewhere in the body.

Scores on the Hypnotic Induction Profile are significantly but moderately correlated with those on the Stanford scales (Orne et al., 1979) and provide useful discrimination among different psychiatric disorders, as described in the following section.