Hypnotherapeutic Olfactory Conditioning for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Hypnotherapeutic Olfactory Conditioning for Chronic Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00784771

Enrollment

Registered

2008-11-04

Start date

2005-01-31

Completion date

2007-02-28

Last updated

2015-11-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis, PTSD

Brief summary

Chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder can be difficult to treat. The investigators believe that hypnosis, with a stress on the sensation of scent which often plays a role in the traumatic memories, can offer help for victims of this disorder who continue to suffer after receiving other treatments.

Detailed description

Our study examines the effect of hypnosis upon 36 individuals who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder incurred in battles or training. The hypnotherapy stresses elements of odor, both in conditioning the subject to relate certain pleasant odors with security and calm, and in gradually reexposing the patient to the olfactory aspects of the traumatic memories. All subjects are taken form the Israel Defense Forces Mental Health Clinic, treated with 6 one-and-a-half-hour hypnotherapy sessions, and evaluated at baseline, end of treatment, after 6 months, and after 12 months, on a battery of clinical scales.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALHypnotherapeutic Olfactory Conditioning (HOC)

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

MALE

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. A diagnosis of chronic combat-related PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria (APA, 1994), as determined by semi-structured psychiatric interview conducted by a psychiatrist with over ten years of experience treating PTSD 2. Flashbacks and/or panic attacks with olfactory components 3. Prior attempt at treatment with unsatisfactory results 4. Competence and agreement to sign an informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Evidence of psychosis 2. Severe traumatic brain injury 3. Post-concussion syndrome 4. Uncontrolled substance abuse.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Impact of Event Scale	Baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, one year

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Beck Depression Inventory	Baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, one year
Dissociative Experience Scale	Baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, one year

Countries

Israel

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026