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[Hyperhidrosis. Hypnotherapy of 2 patients with hyperhidrosis]
1Psykologisk Institut, Aarhus Universitet.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|September 24, 1990
Summary
Hypnotherapy can modulate psychogenic hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) by influencing autonomic responses. While effective for some, its success in treating hyperhidrosis depends on underlying psychological factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Medical Hypnosis
Background:
- Psychogenic hyperhidrosis is a condition where excessive sweating is not caused by an underlying medical issue.
- Conventional treatments often prove ineffective for psychogenic hyperhidrosis.
- Hypnotherapy offers a potential alternative by targeting autonomic nervous system responses.
Observation:
- Two cases of psychogenic hyperhidrosis were treated with hypnotherapy after other treatments failed.
- In both cases, sweating modulation was achieved rapidly (under one minute) during hypnosis.
- The effectiveness varied based on the psychological underpinnings of the condition.
Findings:
- Hypnosis successfully reduced sweating to socially acceptable levels in a patient whose symptoms were not linked to deep-seated psychological issues, using relaxation and conditioning.
- Short-term hypnotherapy was ineffective for a patient with hyperhidrosis linked to more fundamental personality problems.
- These cases support the role of hypnosis in modulating autonomic responses.
Implications:
- Hypnotherapy may be a viable treatment for certain cases of psychogenic hyperhidrosis.
- Understanding the psychological dynamics is crucial for successful hypnotherapeutic intervention.
- Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy of hypnotherapy for diverse presentations of hyperhidrosis.