Cognitive-behavioural hypnotic treatment for managing examination anxiety and facilitating performance

Abstract

This paper delineates a treatment group, including three Chinese undergraduate participants, run for managing examination anxiety and facilitating performance, principally derived from the stress management programme designed by the Hypnosis Unit of University College London. The treatment group comprised four sessions spread over two weeks and was carried out just before, in between and immediately after the examinations. Hypnosis was utilized as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioural therapy in tackling the stress in relation to examinations, and in facilitating revision, sleep and examinations. Although formal assessments of achievement anxiety showed only mild changes, personal reports reflected improvements in both anxiety management and performance during examinations along with changes of perspectives towards learning and examinations. Copyright © 2006 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.