Researchers from the Center for Professional Excellence, Research and Evidence-Based Practice at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, tested Betty Mehling’s guided imagery audio intervention, Magic Island to see if it was effective in reducing post-operative pain, increasing relaxation, and stimulating imagery in children in the hospital setting.

This cross sectional study compared pain and relaxation scores before and after the use of the CD. Sixteen children (7 to 12 years of age) reported pain on a 0 to 10 scale and relaxation on a 1 to 5 scale, and answered questions about what they imagined.

Pain scores were significantly decreased, with no significant differences in relaxation scores. Findings support that school-age children are capable of using guided imagery, and relaxation may not be necessary to achieve pain reduction.

Citation:  Huth MM, Daraiseh NM, Henson MA, McLeod SM. Evaluation of the Magic Island: Relaxation for Kids, compact disc. Pediatric Nursing. 2009 Sep-Oct; 35 (5): pages 290-5.

Researchers from the University of Bielefeld in Germany compared the efficacy of two different treatments for children in a refugee camp in Sri Lanka with severe PTSD, in the acute aftermath of the Tsunami of 2004.

Thirty-one children were randomly assigned to one of two pragmatic, short-term interventions, delivered by trained local counselors: either 6 sessions of Narrative Exposure Therapy for children (KIDNET) or six sessions of meditation-relaxation (MED-RELAX).

Investigators from the Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health & Leisure in Porto, Portugal conducted a study to analyze the association between blood pressure and (1) body mass index (BMI), (2) degree of physical activity and (3) cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) in young people.

The study included 66 boys and 97 girls (average age around 14). Measures were taken of blood pressure and cardio-respiratory fitness during the school day, and accelerometers were used to determine degree of physical activity, both during and away from school.

Overweight Adolescents Lose Weight, Body Fat, Waist Circumference

A ten week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program in Australia delivers significant improvements in 47 overweight Australian teenagers.

Research from the University of South Australia in Adelaide examined the effectiveness of a Cognitive Behavioral Training (CBT) program (called CHOOSE HEALTH) for improving body composition, diet, and physical activity in overweight and obese adolescents.

Effective Approaches for Adults & Kids with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

A thorough review and meta-analysis from Brazil affirms the usefulness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Certain SSRI Meds for OCD.

Researchers from the Psychiatric Institute of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials published in the last decade involving cognitive and/or behavioral treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In a randomized, controlled clinical trial, Dutch researchers from St. Antonius Hospital find that hypnotherapy dramatically decreases pain in children with irritable bowel syndrome or with functional abdominal pain

Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein, The Netherlands, conducted a randomized, controlled trial to look at the efficacy of gut-directed hypnotherapy (HT) for reducing abdominal pain in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, in a retrospective study of clinical records, found that self-hypnosis significantly improved symptoms of recurrent headache in children and adolescents.

Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota did a retrospective review of 178 consecutive outpatient clinical records (referred to the Behavioral Pediatrics Program from 1988-2001) to see if self-hypnosis helped children and youths with symptoms of recurrent headaches.