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International Journal of Culture and

Mental Health
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Handbook of cognitive hypnotherapy

for depression: an evidence-based
approach
a
Oliver Ralley
a
Department of Medicine , Manchester University
Published online: 10 Aug 2011.

To cite this article: Oliver Ralley (2012) Handbook of cognitive hypnotherapy for depression: an
evidence-based approach, International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 5:2, 150-151, DOI:
10.1080/17542863.2010.518361

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2010.518361

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 International Journal of Culture and Mental Health
Vol. 5, No. 2, 2012, 150
151

Book Review

Handbook of cognitive hypnotherapy for depression: an evidence-based approach, by

Assen Alladin, Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007, 240 pp., £28.95
(paperback), ISBN: 978-0781766043
Downloaded by [Pennsylvania State University] at 06:35 05 November 2014

Depression is epidemic, making up for one half of all psychiatric admissions. The
World Health Organisation ranked depression as the single most burdensome disease
in the world. Despite advances on all fronts of management rates continue to prevail
and are even reported to be on the rise. Dr Assen Alladin is a therapist well
acquainted with these statistics
in his Handbook of cognitive hypnotherapy for
depression: an evidence-based approach he introduces a new approach to under-
standing depression from which he means to push forward the scope of modern day
treatments. The newly devised Cognitive hypnotherapy (CH) stems from several
studies that have demonstrated that the effect size increases when Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is combined with hypnotherapy, compared to using
CBT alone. The handbook serves as an introduction to the concept of CH and as
a practical guide for the therapist, of any level, wishing to use CH.
Alladin divides his 240 pages into three sections. The first begins with a précis of
the current theories of depression and its management and then outlines the
principles of both CBT and hypnotherapy as psychotherapeutic tools. This gives
a basis for the second section in which he builds from Beck’s original Cognitive
model of depression by combining both cognitive and hypnotic paradigms to form
the Circular feedback model of depression (CFMD). This innovation draws
particular attention to the roles that dissociation and negative self-hypnosis have
in reinforcing a depressive state of mind. It aims to represent the biopsychosocial
nature of depression by integrating multiple factors which act as both causes and
symptoms upon on another in a circular fashion. Standing as the first attempt to
model such a thing, Alladin succeeds very well in laying the solid foundations to what
is an entirely new arena of thought. Each component is individually explained and,
as the title of the handbook promises, included in the model only on strictly
evidence-based grounds. The framework of CH is such that each stage of the CFMD
is targeted by a corresponding intervention. The third section works as a manual for
practising these interventions. Alladin instructs the practitioner by using a whole
range of different examples, case reports and methods which help model consulta-
tions. Guides to formulating individualised and effective treatment plans are
presented, along with how hypnosis can used in support. Scripted passages show
how to explain new concepts and new tasks to patients
illustrating the function of
well measured patient education and, simultaneously, reinforcing the readers own
understanding of the given concept.
Alladin means the handbook to be pragmatic, and it is exactly that. A testament
to his scrupulous approach he manages to outline an entire therapy into the confines

ISSN 1754-2863 print/ISSN 1754-2871 online

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2010.518361
http://www.tandfonline.com
 Book review 151

of a small and neatly arranged book. Cognitive hypnotherapy takes a holistic and
wholly modern approach to understanding and managing depression. Here Alladin
makes the first steps from which he readily encourages further research and
refinement.
Oliver Ralley
Department of Medicine, Manchester University
Email: oliver.ralley@student.manchester.ac.uk
# 2012, Oliver Ralley
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