Hypnotherapy and Regulated Uncovering in the Treatment of Older Survivors of Nazi Persecution

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION TO THE CHAPTER: In some ways, the previous case of paranoia also makes a nice contrast with depression. While the paranoids deny that they have a problem (and merely blame others), depressives tend to introject blame and shame from others. In other ways, dissociative reaction is the o posite of paranoia. The former represses traumatic memories, whi / e the latter indulges in traumatic fantasies and hen projects them. If paranoids can be treated without insight, then dissociative reaction may require insight. While paranoids can be treated with supportive therapy, dissociative reaction may require a dramatic process of uncovering. There is no more useful tad in this than hypnotherapy. I am not certain if the following case of a 58 year old Israeli woman is more depressed or dissociative, but Somer demonstrates the need to prepare the patient for hypnotherapy with appropriate medications as well as with psychotherapy. Furthermore, after the abreaction, the patient must receive additional treatment to deal with uncovered grief. The debate over whether it is necessary and wise to uncover painful memories in the aged is not resolved, and will continue in this forum. However, if such uncovery is to take place, we should