Abstract : Many combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an olfactory component to their
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Abstract : Many combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an olfactory component to their traumatic memories that might be utilized by a technique called hypnotherapeutic olfactory conditioning (HOC). Thirty-six outpatients with chronic PTSD featuring resistant olfactory-induced flashbacks were treated with six 1.5-hour sessions using hypnosis. The authors used the revised Impact of Events Scale (IES-R) Beck Depression Inventory and Dissociative Experiences Scale as outcome measures. Significant reductions in symptomatology were recorded by the end of the 6-week treatment period for the IES-R as well as for the Beck Depression Inventory and the Dissociative Experiences Scale 21 (58) of the subjects responded to treatment by a reduction of 50 or more on the IES-R. Improvement was maintained at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. Use of medication was curtailed. HOC shows potential for providing benefit to individuals suffering from PTSD with olfactory components.
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