- Clinical hypnosis,
- Mental imagery,
- Guided imagery,
- Visualization.
WHAT IS
MEDICAL HYPNOSIS?
MEDICAL HYPNOSIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS:
It is a highly focused state during which patients are taught to create positive experience, in their mind, that allows them to realize that they are able to do things that they previously were not aware that they could do.1 No one can ever control anyone else's mind. Therefore, ultimately, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
When Dr. Lazarus sees patients who are motivated and have no other medical or psychological problems, they typically have significant improvement in keeping the bed dry after only 2 to 3 visits!
Plus, there are no medications and it is quite empowering!
There have been several studies about the different treatments for bedwetting, including hypnosis. Click below to view a presentation summarizing the research.
When Dr. Lazarus sees patients who are motivated and have no other medical or psychological problems, they typically have significant improvement in keeping the bed dry after only 2 to 3 visits!
Plus, there are no medications and it is quite empowering!
There have been several studies about the different treatments for bedwetting, including hypnosis. Click below to view a presentation summarizing the research.
VIEW RESEARCH SUMMARY
Research on Treatments for Bedwetting
The largest study regarding the use of medical hypnosis for bedwetting involved 257 patients. Most of them had previously tried the bedwetting alarm or medication. After learning medical hypnosis, 45% were completely dry, defined as 30 nights in a row and 1 year later without relapse. An additional 32% were dry more than 50% of the time.
Importantly, successful patients usually demonstrated improvement after only 2 or 3 visits. Children who were not successful were either not motivated or had parents who were too involved in the process.2
The most common treatments for bedwetting include medication (most commonly desmopressin, also known as DDAVP) and the bedwetting alarm.
Desmopressin alone provides, on average, one more dry night per week for most children during treatment. However, almost all of these children relapse once the medication is discontinued. Rare but serious side effects can occur in patients on this medication.3
The alarm reduces night-time bedwetting in about two-thirds of children during treatment, but half of the children resume having wet beds after they stop using it. The alarm can take up to 4 months to work and requires a great deal of parental involvement and supervision.4 In addition, children frequently remove the alarm by themselves, and the alarm often awakens everyone in the home except the patient!
Importantly, successful patients usually demonstrated improvement after only 2 or 3 visits. Children who were not successful were either not motivated or had parents who were too involved in the process.2
The most common treatments for bedwetting include medication (most commonly desmopressin, also known as DDAVP) and the bedwetting alarm.
Desmopressin alone provides, on average, one more dry night per week for most children during treatment. However, almost all of these children relapse once the medication is discontinued. Rare but serious side effects can occur in patients on this medication.3
The alarm reduces night-time bedwetting in about two-thirds of children during treatment, but half of the children resume having wet beds after they stop using it. The alarm can take up to 4 months to work and requires a great deal of parental involvement and supervision.4 In addition, children frequently remove the alarm by themselves, and the alarm often awakens everyone in the home except the patient!
1. Yapko, M. (2003). Trancework: An Introduction to the Practice of Clinical Hypnosis, (3rd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
2. Kohen, D. et al. (1984).The use of relaxation-mental imagery (self-hypnosis) in the management of 505 pediatric behavioral encounters. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 5:21-25.
3. The Cochrane Collaboration. (2009). Desmopressin for nocturnal enuresis in children (Review). Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
4. The Cochrane Collaboration. (2009). Alarm interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children (Review). Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
2. Kohen, D. et al. (1984).The use of relaxation-mental imagery (self-hypnosis) in the management of 505 pediatric behavioral encounters. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 5:21-25.
3. The Cochrane Collaboration. (2009). Desmopressin for nocturnal enuresis in children (Review). Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
4. The Cochrane Collaboration. (2009). Alarm interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children (Review). Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
