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Sleep-terror disorder in children: the role of self-hypnosis in management

D P Kohen1, M W Mahowald, G M Rosen

  • 1University of Minnesota.

The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis
|April 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

This study shows imipramine combined with self-hypnosis effectively treats pediatric disorders of arousal. This treatment approach led to sustained symptom remission in children, offering a novel therapeutic strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Disorders of arousal are characterized by frequent, prolonged, or dangerous episodes during sleep.
  • These episodes can occur in children without significant psychological or behavioral comorbidities.
  • Polysomnography is crucial for diagnosing these sleep-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of a combined treatment approach for pediatric disorders of arousal.
  • To evaluate the use of imipramine and self-hypnosis in managing these conditions.
  • To report the first successful use of self-hypnosis for polysomnogram-proven disorders of arousal in children.

Main Methods:

  • Four children (ages 8-12) with diagnosed disorders of arousal underwent polysomnography.
  • Treatment involved a short course of imipramine (20-60 mg) combined with relaxation and mental imagery (self-hypnosis) training.
  • A phased approach included education, medication, self-regulation training, and medication discontinuation.

Main Results:

  • All four children responded positively to the imipramine and self-hypnosis treatment.
  • Follow-up over 2-3 years showed all children remained asymptomatic.
  • Seven additional children achieved similar success using hypnosis alone, without medication.

Conclusions:

  • A combined treatment of imipramine and self-hypnosis is effective for pediatric disorders of arousal.
  • Self-hypnosis offers a successful, non-pharmacological therapeutic option for this population.
  • This study highlights a novel and effective strategy for managing complex sleep-related disorders in children.

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