Hypnotizability and Disordered Personality Styles in Cluster A Personality Disorders.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Cluster A personality disorders (CAPD) are characterized by interpersonal sensitivity and mistrust.
• The relationship between hypnotic suggestibility and CAPD functioning styles is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between hypnotic suggestibility and personality functioning in patients with CAPD.
• To explore the potential role of environmental suggestions in CAPD.

Main Methods:

• 36 patients with CAPD and 115 healthy controls completed the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form C (SHSS:C) and Parker Personality Measure (PERM).

Main Results:

• CAPD patients exhibited higher scores on paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, borderline, avoidant, and dependent personality styles.
• Patients also showed higher overall hypnotic suggestibility and specific suggestion passing rates.
• Specific hypnotic suggestions differentially predicted certain CAPD traits.

Conclusions:

• Reduced susceptibility to external suggestions and heightened body control may contribute to paranoid attitudes and interpersonal avoidance in CAPD.
• Findings offer insights into the etiology of interpersonal issues in CAPD.
• Hypnotherapy may be a potential treatment avenue for CAPD.