Addendum, November, 2000: A recent research report on the NLP technique called Visual-Kinesthetic Dissociation, which is essentially the first half of the Fast Phobia/Trauma Cure.

From: dlb@fanny.wash.inmet.com (David Barton)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Depression: Nutritional treatments
Date: 12 Sep 92 16:51:52 GMT

Einspruch, Eric L. and Forman, Bruce D. ``Neurolinguistic Programming in the Treatment of Phobias". Psychotherapy in Private Practice, 1988, 6(1), pages 91-100. I have no idea if this journal is peer reviewed. [See abstract below.]

[ Allen, K., ``An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Neuro-Linguistic Programming Procedures in Treating Snake Phobias,'' 1982, Dissertation Abstracts International, 43, 861B. According to reports, this study found the NLP 15-minute phobia cure behaviorally as successful as the much longer systematic desensitization process, and much more convincing subjectively to the participants.     -- L.L. ]

[ Benholths, M.S. and Mann, E.T. (1975) ``An Automated Audiovisual Treatment of Phobias Administered by Non-professionals,'' J. of Behav. Therapy and Exper. Psychiatry vol. 6, 111-115.   -- L.L. ]

For those who are really interested, there was a fairly sharp exchange (at least, judged by the abstracts) between Einspruch and Froman, and Sharpley in the Journal of Counseling Psychology: Sharpley in 1984 31(2), 238-248, Einspruch in 1985 32(4), pages 589-596 and Sharpley again in 1987, 34(1), 103-107.

There is a pretty extensive bibliography on NLP related dissertations and articles compiled by Lyle Chubb on the AIFORUM on Compuserve. It is very long. If I may be permitted a very subjective summary: eliminating books and articles in specifically NLP related publications (Anchor Point and the Rapporter) and NLP related books (training and the like), the research psychologists seem to think there is nothing determinable here, and the clinical psychologists seem to think there is something useful here (``here'' meaning the vague ``in NLP in general; the specific articles and dissertations address specific parts of NLP). The eye accessing cues in particular take a beating by the researchers; there seems very little support for this particular NLP theory. Other specific theories get mixed reviews (predicate matching and such). Specific therapies are usually compared with other theraputic techniques, where they seem to come in about equivalent --- not better, not worse than others. There is some variation in all of the above, and remember that is is my own, subjective summary.

Dave Barton dlb@hudson.wash.inmet.com

[ The Research Database of the North American Association of NLP is contactable c/o Lyle Chubb, Creative Growth Unlimited, 83 Williams St, Lyons, NY 14489, USA. This research dates back to the very early days of NLP and includes research on the NLP change techniques. --  L.L. ]

AB ABSTRACT: Evaluated a program for treating phobias based on R. Bandler and J. Grinder's (1979) neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and Ericksonian approaches to psychotherapy within the context of a multifaceted treatment program. 31 phobic patients seen in the group/class treatment program completed a phobia questionnaire fear inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory before and after 8 wks of treatment. 17 patients seen in individual therapy completed part of the phobia questionnaire before and after treatment. Results indicate marked improvement by those who were treated. Findings suggest that NLP holds promise for treating phobias.