Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:741-743
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Posttraumatic stress disorder, hypnotizability, and imagery
RK Stutman and EL Bliss
Twenty-six Vietnam veterans were studied to determine the relationship
between posttraumatic stress disorder and hypnotizability. The intensity of
their posttraumatic stress disorder was measured by a self- report. Their
hypnotizability scores, vividness of imagery scores, and symptomatic
profiles were also ascertained. Veterans with low or no posttraumatic
stress disorder scores had normal hypnotizability scores and normal imagery
scores, whereas those with high posttraumatic stress disorder scores had
high hypnotizability scores and high imagery scores. The authors conclude
that either combat traumas enhanced hypnotic potential in some veterans or
that veterans with excellent hypnotic potential to begin with were more
susceptible to posttraumatic stress.
