Visualisering og helbredels

Abstract: The development of psychoneuroimmunology and the use of imagery techniques like relaxation, visualization and guided imagery in medicine is reflected in the work of the Danish psychologist Robert (Bobby) Zachariae. He is now a professor specializing in psychosocial treatment of cancer, and his doctoral dissertation - in medicine! - (Zachariae 1996) is a documentation and discussion of body/mind theories and clinical experimental research in psychoneuroimmunology and health psychology during the last two decades. In a more popular publication (Zachariae 1993, only available in Danish) he introduces ÒThe Psychology of VisualizationÓ, theories of mental imagery and its use in communication, medicine and psychotherapy. Like Achterberg (1985) he connects modern knowledge about the body/mind connection to ancient healing practices like Shamanism (p. 63ff), and he discusses when and how stress is related to mental imagery, psychological traits and coping strategies. Research has demonstrated that there is a connection between health and coping style, as reflected in mental imagery, and this connection is further explored with focus on the relationship between the bodily immune defense system and mental imagery. Zachariares preliminary conclusion within this area is that Òthe immune system seem to be influenced and susceptible to influence by psychological treatment techniques. This indicates that techniques like visualization may be relevant as part of the treatment og immunologically related diseases...Ó (p. 92). Psychological interventions - relaxation, placebo, visualization or verbal psychotherapy - are examined, and Zachariae concludes that Òtechniques utilizing non-verbal mental imagery seem to have advantages compared with verbal techniques, because they have easier acces to the relevant on-verbally encoded images.Ó (p. 110) Turning to the application of imagery theory in the treatment of medical problems Zachariae makes a valuable summary of the basic assumptions within ÒThe psychology of mental imageryÓ (p. 114). Here we shall only mention one of these, which is also of great importance within psychotherapy: ÒPersons are different in how they use and respond to mental imagery. Some of us are able to produce very vivid images, while the images of others are more vague. Some of us seem to use it more than others. Lesser vividness doesnÕt have to mean that we use imagery less, but that our mental imagery may be more generalized, more abstract.Ó (p. 126) Again: Imagery can be trained - and used in assessment as well as in treatment. ZachariaeÕs book includes an instruction manual, numerous excercises, a test (ÒVividness of Mental ImageryÓ - and two audio tapes for self help visualization).

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