The Experience of Women in a Phase II Trial of Hypnosis and Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Body Image: Exploring Possible Mechanisms

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore potential mechanisms of two interventions, hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation to nature sounds (PMR), to improve body image in a randomized phase II trial. Participant comments were explored in an unplanned qualitative analysis.Methods:This qualitative study employed thematic analysis, a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding. We analyzed participant feedback given at any point during the 6-week intervention. Results:In the parent study 87 women were randomized in a 2:1 fashion, 59 to hypnosis and 28 to PMR. Sixty-three of the 87 women participating (72%) were motivated to write comments elaborating on their study experience. Thematic analysis generated five themes, including: relaxation and stress management, mind-body connection, improved mood, sleep, and sexual health. Four of the themes were represented in both groups while sexual health was only represented in the hypnosis group. Conclusions: This analysis suggests that both hypnosis and PMR may improve body image through the ability to relax and manage stress, sleep better, improve mood and create a mind-body connection. Sexual health emerged as an important theme among participants in the hypnosis group, but not the PMR group. Hypnosis, due to the hypnotic suggestions for sexual health, may have a positive impact on sexual health specifically. Improving body image alone may not have profound effects on the broader concept of sexual health. More research is needed.

The utility of universal screening for somatization in a pediatric emergency department: A prospective evaluation

Objective: To evaluate clinical utility and feasibility of universal somatization screening in the pediatric emergency department (ED) using a standardized approach of (1) identifying potential somatizing symptoms within the ED, (2) introducing these patients and their caregivers to the concept of the ‘mind-body connection’, (3) corroborating the likelihood of a somatization diagnosis via brief psychiatric assessment, and (4) inviting families to a psychoeducational follow-up session. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to carry out this approach with families visiting a pediatric ED. Our primary outcome of screening utility was measured as the proportion of youth who screened positive for somatization by the ED clinician. Our secondary outcome of screening feasibility was measured as the proportion of patients with positives who (1) agreed to meet with the study psychiatrist, (2) consented to an ED psychiatric assessment, (3) were assessed by the study psychiatrist as likely experiencing somatization, and (4) were invited for follow-up and attended. Results: Of the 344 screened patients, 27 (7.8%) screened positive for somatization. Of these, 25 (92.6%) families verbally consented to meet the study psychiatrist to learn about the mind-body connection, and 21 (77.8%) consented to further psychiatric assessment. Upon assessment, the somatization likelihood was supported for all 21 youth. Twenty families were invited to follow-up and ultimately two (10%) attended. Conclusions: Somatization can be detected through ED-based universal screening. Few families attended psychoeducational follow-up. Further research is needed to determine appropriate ED-initiated pediatric somatization intervention.

North American Yoga Practitioners’ Lived Experiences of Mind-Body Connection: A Phenomenological Study

The practice of yoga was born in India thousands of years ago and brought to North America gradually beginning in the 20th century. The traditional practice of yoga is spiritual in nature with an intention of purifying the mind and body, leading to an alleviation of suffering through connection with the Divine (i.e., liberation). Yoga has gained widespread popularity in North America, but whether North American yoga practice includes an intention on the purification of the mind-body, in contemporary practice often described as a mind-body connection, has yet to be explored. This research study investigated North American yoga practitioners’ experiences of mind-body connection in their practices. Six yoga practitioners residing in North America were interviewed for this study. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed. Phenomenological analysis was conducted to produce the essence data, and thematic analysis was conducted to produce the contextual data. Phenomenological themes regarding the co-researchers’ experiences of mind-body connection in their yoga practices were identified and grouped into four textural essences: (1) the experience of breath, (2) local or internal experiences, (3) an increased sense of awareness and mindfulness, and (4) transcendental and spiritual qualities. Four structural conditions that allow practitioners to experience mind-body connection during yoga practice were identified: (1) breath, (2) physical asana, (3) practitioner intentionality, and (4) environmental conditions. Findings of the current study suggest a capacity for North American yoga practitioners to experience mind-body connection that is essential to traditional yoga practice.