The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-25
PSYCKIATRISTS
USE HYPNOTISM
IN MIND CURES
Its Value in Diagnosing,
Treating Disorders
Stressed.
M Science sorrioe

~ Science Scrrice
PHILADELPHIA, June 25-Ner-
vous breakdowns and sexual prob
lens cause more college students to
need psychiatric advice than other
difficulties they encounter.
This was shown in a study Of one
thousand college student cases made
in connection with the University of
California psychiatric services by
DR.. Sidney Kinnear Smith Of Oak
land, Cal, and read to the Ameri-
can Psychiatric association here by
DR.. Glenn Myers, a California col
league.
DR.. Smith found that every year
about the same proportion of stu
dents in college need such help,
and that more freshmen and sopho-
mores ask for advice than juniors
and seniors. Sexual aspects of life
appear to be given more considera-
ton and speculation at the college
age than at any other time.
Sexual problems in their relation
TO the students social life are of
extreme Importance, he said.
Psychiatric treatment brought about
the greatest degree of improvement
in the sexual Embellishments, but
there were marked improvements
also in the other types. OF the total
thousand cases, over half were i'm
proved by phychiatric treatment,
DR.. Smith reported.
Study His Personality
In treating the student, his per-
sonality is studied and if his prob
lem arises from social maladjust-
ments, the psychiatrist tries to fit
the student into a social group in
which he will be more comfortable.
For cases of nervous breakdowns,
DR.. Smith unhesitatingly recon-
mends psychoanalytic treatment.
Psychiatrists were advised by DR..
Oscar j. Raeder of Boston to make
more frequent use of hypnotism
both for diagnosing and treating
mental disorders. DR.. Raeder de-
scribed cases in which he found
hypnosis quick and ready means
Of discovering what allied patients
in whom no physical signs of disease
appeared.
One complained of blindness but
his eye doctor could find nothing to
account for his symptoms. At the
first interview, he was hypnotised
and 1t was suggested to him that
after a short sleep he would be able
to see He woke up and found to
his establishment that he could look
into bright light from a window
without difficulty.
This, however, vas only the be-
ginning, and the patient was told
to return for further treatment. 1t
was not necessary to use hypnotism
again, however, for his confidence
had been won and at the next in
terview the real nature Of the dis
order was found to be mental based
on domestic difficulty The pa
tient recovered and of course had
no further difficulty with his eyes
Lighter States Best
DR.. Raeder described suggestibil-
ity as popularity of the mind. In
hypnosis, he explained the mind is
perfectly concentrated, with no out
side distraction at all. In light
state of hypnosis the patient re-
members everything that has hap
pened during the time he was hyp-
notiSed, but in a very deep state he
moves about in a trance and re-
members nothing at all.
In treating disease, the lighter
states are much more valuable. In
these states there is a greater de-
gree of consciousness, the patients
personality exercises a greater in
fluence through other mental facul-
ties, such as reasoning and judg-
ment. In the lighter states sugges-
ton must be given. over a longer
period of time, but the effect is
much more lasting.
In some cases, DR.. Raeder OBJ
served, hypnosis may be only
quicker way of getting at the pa
TENTS real trouble, but in other
cases he believes that it is not only
quicker but actually more effective
for diagnosis and treatment.