Cognitive therapy and hypnosis as treatment modalities with overweight individuals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combining hypnosis with cognitive therapy in a weight reduction program. A second objective was to compare each treatment modality while controlling for the variables of population sampled, treatment setting, length of treatment, length of follow-up, attrition rate and therapist effect. The effects of hypnotic susceptibility, locus of control and rational thinking on weight loss were also assessed. Thirty-seven of the initial fifty-one volunteers completed all program requirements. The subjects were from the University of South Florida and the surrounding Tampa community. A minimum of 10% overweight was required. The first group was an hypnosis group, the second a cognitive therapy group, the third an hypnosis-cognitive therapy group and the fourth a waiting list control group. All active treatment groups received nutritional information and were encouraged to increase activity levels. Each group was led by the same co-therapists, who were doctoral candidates in clinical psychology. There were 6 treatment sessions. Each group met once a week for 1 1/2 hours. There was a four-week follow-up. The weight measures used were pounds and tricept skinfold meaurements. Analyses of covariance were performed on weight, skinfold, locus of ciontrol and rational thinking measures. Pearson-Produce-Moment-Correlations were computed to determine relationships among variables. Results showed all treatments to be equally effective, equivalent to other studies and significantly more effective than waiting list control with respect to weight loss. Correlations showed no significant relationship between susceptibility and weight loss. Treatment did not affect locus of control but did affect rational thinking. The cognitive-hypnosis group proved more rational at follow-up. This is important since a significant correlation was found between percent overweight and rational thinking. Heavier subjects were less rational. Indirect support for Schachter's hypothesis was evidenced at pre-treatment since heavier subjects were more externally oriented. Following treatment, highly susceptible subjects were more externally oriented suggesting that this group might be prone to losing treatment gains more rapidly, than less susceptible subjects, and might eventually be more overweight than when treatment started. This finding needs additional investigation.